New Delhi: Star batter Jemimah Rodrigues and Sikha Pandey were dropped from the 15-member Indian women’s squad announced for the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup, as the Board for Control of Cricket in India announced on Thursday.
The squad will be led by veteran Mithali Raj with all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur working as his deputy. A lot will depend on how Harmanpreet holds the stead in the middle-order. She has been in spectacular form in the Women’s Big Bash League and will hope to replicate the same in the India jersey.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have been picked as openers while young Yastika Bhatiya will be the third opener. Veteran Jhulan Goswami, who is playing her last World Cup will lead the pace attack alongside Pooja Vastrakar and Meghna Singh. S. Meghna, Ekta Bisht, Simran Dil Bahadur have been picked up as standby players.
India begin their ICC Women’s World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on March 6 at the bay Oval. The squad will also feature in the 5-match ODI series against New Zealand starting from 11th February 2022.
#TeamIndia squad for ICC Women's World Cup 2022 & New Zealand ODIs:
Mithali Raj (C), Harmanpreet Kaur (VC), Smriti, Shafali, Yastika, Deepti, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sneh Rana, Jhulan, Pooja, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya (WK), Rajeshwari, Poonam. #CWC22 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/UvvDuAp4Jg
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) January 6, 2022
After the game against Pakistan in the Women’s World Cup, India will square off against New Zealand (March 10), West Indies (March 12), England (March 16), Australia (March 19), Bangladesh (March 22), and South Africa (March 27) in the group stage.
India squad for ICC Women’s World Cup 2022: Mithali Raj (C), Harmanpreet Kaur (VC), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Rajeshwari Gaykawad, Poonam Yadav
The BCCI women’s selection committee also announced a 16-member squad for a one-off T20I against New Zealand, which will be played on February 9.
#TeamIndia squad for one-off T20I against New Zealand:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali, Yastika, Deepti, Richa (WK), Sneh Rana, Pooja, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya (WK), Rajeshwari, Poonam, Ekta, S. Meghna, Simran Dil Bahadur#NZvIND
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) January 6, 2022
India Women’s squad for one-off T20I: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, S. Meghna, Simran Dil Bahadur.
