The Women’s
T20 challenge is set to commence on November 4 and the Trailblazers will be
looking to end the Supernovas’ dominance and clinch their first title.

Led by the Indian
national team’s vice-captain and star batter Smriti Mandhana, the Trailblazers
suffered a three-wicket loss to the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Supernovas in the inaugural
edition’s one-off match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in 2018.

In 2019,
with the introduction of the franchise Velocity and the subsequent change in
format, the Trailblazers missed out on the final on net run rate, with all
three teams registering a win and a loss each from their group stage matches.

They will be
looking for a change in fortunes this time around with a strong lineup of
Indian talents, alongside four overseas players, the most notable of which is
Thailand’s Nattakan Chanatam.

The
24-year-old batter became the first from her country to score a half-century in
an ICC tournament when she scored 56 against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in
March in Australia.

The Trailblazers
also feature Bangladesh all-rounder Salma Khatun, 21-year-old English bowler Sophie
Ecclestone, and West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin.

Among the
Indian talents, besides skipper Mandhana, the Trailblazers have the
batting-allrounder Deepti Sharma, batter Punam Raut, bowling legend Jhulan
Goswami, bowler Rajeshwari Gayakwad, among their ranks.

The Board
of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the Women’s T20 Challenge will
be played alongside the Indian Premier League’s playoff stage in the UAE from November
4, when the Supernovas take on Velocity.

The Trailblazers
will the play Velocity and Supernovas on November 5 and 7 before the November 9
final.

The
schedule received some criticism because of its clash with the Women’s Big Bas
League with a number of international stars, including New Zealand’s Suzie
Bates, Australian Alyssa Healy and England’s Danni Wyatt, having to miss out on
the Women’s T20 Challenge. Similarly, Indian players will also be unavailable
for Cricket Auatralia’s marquee women’s cricket tournament.  

Here is the
full Trailblazers squad:

Smriti
Mandhana (C), Deepti Sharma (VC), Punam Raut, Richa Ghosh, D. Hemalata, Nuzhat
Parween (WK), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Harleen Deol, Jhulan Goswami, Simaran Dil
Bahadur, Salma Khatun, Sophie Ecclestone, Natthakan Chantham, Deandra Dottin, Kashvee
Gautam.