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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the Indian Women’s squad for the upcoming multi-format series against South Africa. The Proteas will travel to India to play a one-off Test and a six-match white-ball series, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is. Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the Indian side, with star opener Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.
Schedule of the series
South Africa’s tour to India will commence on June 16 with the three-match ODI series. The one-off Test match is scheduled for June 28, followed by the T20I leg starting on July 5. The month-long tour will conclude on July 9.
Key inclusions and fitness concerns
Experienced batter Jemimah Rodrigues and pacer Pooja Vastrakar‘s availability is subject to their fitness. Jemimah missed the T20I series against Bangladesh due to a back injury sustained during the Senior Women’s Inter Zonal Multi-Day Trophy. She has since been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Vastrakar, who participated in all five games in Bangladesh, has an unspecified injury, as per the BCCI media statement.
Also READ: BCCI announces schedule for South Africa Women’s all-format tour of India 2024
Uncapped and returning players
Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry has been included in all three squads, replacing the injured Yastika Bhatia, who played just one T20I in Bangladesh. Top-order batter Priya Punia, who last represented India in July 2023, earned a call-up to the Test side. Medium-pacer Arundhati Reddy, with 26 T20Is under her belt, has been called up to the Test and ODI squads.
Notable selections and omission
Legspinner Asha Sobhana, who debuted in T20Is in Bangladesh, earned her maiden ODI call-up. Dayalan Hemalatha, who made a comeback in the Bangladesh series, is set to return to ODI action after nearly two years and retained her place in the T20I squad.
On the other hand, Harleen Deol, who was part of the squad for the ODIs and the one-off Test against Australia in December-January, was left out due to a knee injury sustained early in the WPL 2024, which required surgery in March.
- India’s ODI squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues (subject to fitness), Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar (subject to fitness), Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Priya Punia
- India’s Test squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Jemimah Rodrigues (subject to fitness), Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar (subject to fitness), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Priya Punia
- India’s T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues (subject to fitness), Sajana Sajeevan, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Asha Sobhana, Pooja Vastrakar (subject to fitness), Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy
- Standby: Saika Ishaque
