New Delhi, 24 March (H.S.):
The BCCI selection committee has named a balanced 15-member Indian women's cricket team for the upcoming five-match T20I series in South Africa captained by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain.
The squad blends experience and youth featuring stalwarts like Shefali Verma Jemimah Rodrigues Deepti Sharma and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh to anchor the batting while Renuka Thakur Arundhati Reddy and Shreyanka Patil bolster the bowling attack.
Young prospects Kashvi Gautam Kranti Gaud Sree Charani Bharati Fulmali Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper) and Anushka Sharma earned call-ups signaling faith in emerging talent ahead of major tournaments.
The series kicks off April 17 in Durban followed by the second match on April 19 also at Kingsmead. Matches three and four shift to Johannesburg's Wanderers Stadium on April 22 and 25 with the decider on April 27 likely at Benoni all timed for Indian evening viewing.
This tour holds crucial importance as preparation for upcoming international events with India aiming to fine-tune combinations against a formidable South African side.
The full squad reads: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain) Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain) Shefali Verma Jemimah Rodrigues Deepti Sharma Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper) Arundhati Reddy Renuka Thakur Kranti Gaud Sree Charani Shreyanka Patil Kashvi Gautam Bharati Fulmali Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper) Anushka Sharma.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
