NEW DELHI: Harmanpreet Kaur will lead Team India in the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup in February, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday. The All-India Women’s Selection Committee picked a strong 15-member squad which will have Smriti Mandhana as Harmanpreet's deputy in the ICC's marquee event.
The tournament will be played in South Africa from February 10 to 26, 2023.
Along with the T20 World Cup squad, the board also announced the squad for the tri-series in South Africa which will take place before the cricketing extravaganza.
Veteran pacer Shikha Pandey has also been named in the squad for the tournament. Shikha last played for India in October 2021 before being controversially dropped from the team. The 33-year-old, whose strength is to swing the ball, has featured in three Tests, 55 ODIs and 56 T20s.
Jemimah Rodrigues has managed to retain her place in the team despite low returns in India's 1-4 series loss to the mighty Australia.
Left-arm pacer Anjali Sarvani is also part of the team following her debut series against Australia. The other pace bowling options include Renuka Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar, whose inclusion in the squad is subject to fitness.
The spinners in the team include all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya besides Radha Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh are already in South Africa with the U-19 team.
Team India is set to begin their campaign on 12th February against Pakistan in Cape Town.
India is placed in Group 2 alongside Pakistan, England, West Indies, Pakistan, and Ireland. The top two teams from the two groups will play the semis. The final will be held on 26th February 2023 in Cape Town.
India had lost to Australia in the 2020 T20 World Cup final at the MCG.
India will open their tri-series campaign against hosts South Africa on January 19 before facing West Indies on January 23. All teams play each other twice before the final on February 2.
India’s squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk) Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey
Reserves: Sabbhineni Meghana, Sneh Rana, Meghna Singh.
India’s squad for Tri-series: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice Captain), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Shushma Verma (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Sabbhineni Meghana, Sneh Rana, Shikha Pandey
(With inputs from PTI)
