India Women vs Australia Women: BCCI announces Harmanpreet Kaur-led squads for ODI, T20I series

The BCCI women’s selection committee on Monday announced the squads of India’s upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia that starts from 28 December in Mumbai. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead both the sides whereas Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy. Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh have been named the two designated wicketkeepers in the team. The first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium will be followed by the second and third matches at the same venue 30 December and 2 January. The three T20Is will be played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on 5 January, 7 January and 9 January. India are coming on the back of Test wins over England and Australia and now the focus shifts to the limited-overs formats. Eight players from the team that toured Bangladesh in July are not part of this squad. This squad features Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Renuka Thakur and Titas Sadhu. Devika Vaidya, Uma Chhetry, Meghna Singh, B Anusha, Priya Punia, Anjali Sarvani, Monica Patel and Rashi Kanojiya have gone out from the squad. A crafty left-arm-spinner, the Patiala-born Kashyap, 20, was earlier called up for the T20I series against England but did not get a game. Shreyanka earned her maiden ODI call-up after she made her debut in the T20I series against England earlier this month. In three matches against Heather Knight’s women, Shreyanka picked up five wickets and won the Player of the Match award in the third and final T20I of the series. Kashyap was part of India’s victorious women’s Under-19 World Cup winning squad in February, and so was Titas Sadhu. Saika Ishaque was one of the top bowlers for the Mumbai franchise in the inaugural Women’s Premier League. ODI Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Harleen Deol T20I Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Kanika Ahuja, Minnu Mani With PTI inputs