Will Australia still be the team to beat?

BENGALURU: The captains of India, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Bangladesh women's cricket teams flashed their best smiles as they posed with the ICC World T20 Trophy.
Then came the introductions. When the stylish Bangladesh skipper was introduced by the moderator as “Ayasha Rahman“, there were no raised eyebrows. But the young Bangladeshi, with heavily-kohled eyes, spoke up.“I'm not Ayasha Rahman,“ she said, her eyes darkening, “My name is Jahanara Alam.“
That's something that slipped between bat and pad, but that's women's cricket.Few know the players, fewer still watch them play. They may not play to the gallery , but they play because they are passionate.
It is this passion that will be on display when the 10 women's teams play in the World T20, starting with a warm-up game between India and Ireland on Thursday. Three-time champions and holders Australia may have lost back-to-back home series against India and New Zealand, yet they are tipped to take back the trophy .
Having said that, the aura of invincibility around the Australia team has faded. Add to that the exposure to competitive T20 that players from West Indies, New Zealand, England and South Africa have got in the Women's Big Bash League, and the Australians will have a task on hand.
But India skipper Mithali Raj, who led the team to a series win against Australia in January this year, still believes the team from Down Under will be tough to beat.
“Last edition's champions Australia will be tough contenders. Though we have beaten them in Australian conditions, the World Cup is a different scenario,“ she said.
Sri Lanka's Sashikala Siriwardene agreed on Meg Lanning's team being the hot favourites but Ireland captain Isobel Joyce put her money on New Zealand, led by the formidable Suzie Bates.
Jahanara, on the other hand, believes the hosts are serious title contenders. “I support India. For my team no team is tough. If we believe we can do, we can do. But I will pick India.“