India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup was announced on Saturday, with one or two major surprises. Harmanpreet Kaur, who led their maiden World Cup win last year, will once again spearhead the lineup in the marquee tournament, while Smriti Mandhana will serve as her deputy. The T20 World Cup squad was unveiled by Harmanpreet herself, alongside BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and selection committee chair Amita Sharma.
Shafali Verma is expected to open the batting alongside Mandhana once the tournament begins. At the same time, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma are set to play crucial roles in the middle order. Radha Yadav, who had a fantastic Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the RCB, also returned to the squad despite missing out on the previous series against Australia and South Africa.
Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Nandini Sharma and Kranti Gaud are the pace bowling options, while the spin department will be taken care of by Deepti, Sree Charani and Shreyanka Patil. The series against South Africa saw Kashvee Gautam in the squad, but during the team announcement, it was confirmed that she had suffered an injury and was ruled out. Amanjot Kaur was also unavailable for selection due to injury.
“In Kashvee’s case, she has a problem with her right knee. It’s a serious injury, and the operation has to take place,” Amita told reporters. Answering the same question, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said that the medical team would be better equipped to answer about the severity of her injury.
For the Women’s T20 World Cup, India are in Group 1 alongside Australia, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Pakistan and South Africa. The Harmanpreet-led side will begin their campaign on June 14 against Pakistan, while the marquee contest against Australia will be played on June 28.
India might have won the 50-over World Cup last year, but the team’s performances in the shortest format have led to a lot to be desired. Most recently, the Women in Blue went down against South Africa, losing the five-match series 1-4. In the series against the Proteas, no one apart from Harmanpreet gave confidence, and even Mandhana failed to get going. The vice-captain was then rested from the lineup for the last two T20Is.
“In South Africa, we were unable to take wickets. We have tried to strengthen the bowling department. We have to try and take early wickets, and that’s why we have added two bowlers to the squad,” Amita told reporters on Saturday.
India will have another chance of fine-tuning their skills ahead of the Women’s World Cup when they take on England in a three-match T20I series from May 28 to June 2. Apart from the World Cup squad, the team for the one-off Test against England, set to be played at Lord’s Cricket Ground, was also named.
India’s squad for three T20Is against England and the Women’s T20 World Cup: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shreyanka Patil, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Arundhati Reddy, Nandini Sharma, Bharti Fulmali, Renuka Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani.
India’s squad for the one-off Test: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Sneh Rana.