India, June 12 -- Bigger and more competitive than ever, the ICC T20 Women's World Cup begins here on Friday with the ever-improving India, England and South Africa expected to challenge Australia's traditional dominance in the tournament.

The Aussies, who have won six of the last nine tournaments, will be eager to displace reigning champions New Zealand for a seventh title, but that is no longer a yawn-inducing formality.

The Kiwis themselves are a formidable unit, and then there are India, who landed their maiden global title last year in the 50-over World Cup.

England, strong as ever in home conditions, and South Africa, finalists in the last three ICC events, would be no pushovers either.

In that context, this iteration of the sho...