New Delhi, 09 November (H.S.): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced the squads for the upcoming T20 tri-series featuring India's Under-19 A and B teams and Nepal's Under-19 side. Wicketkeeper-batter Bhavika Ahire will lead India U-19 A, while pace-bowling all-rounder Anaadi Tagde has been appointed captain of India U-19 B.

The tri-series, titled the Muthoot FinCorp T20 Tri-Series, will be held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from November 10 to 22. The tournament is an important part of India's preparations for the 2027 ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup, which Bangladesh and Nepal will jointly host early next year. India won the inaugural edition in 2023 and successfully defended the title in 2025, and will now aim to complete a hat-trick of championships in 2027.

Under Bhavika's captaincy, India U-19 have already secured T20 and one-day series victories against Sri Lanka U-19 in Chennai and Puducherry earlier this year. She was also part of India's title-winning squad at the 2025 Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup.

Ishwari Awsare, who was also a member of the 2025 World Cup-winning squad, has been included in the India U-19 B team for the upcoming competition. Mumbai batter Ira Jadhav has been appointed vice-captain of Bhavika's side, while Shambhavi Rajput will serve as the team's second wicketkeeper.

In the India U-19 B squad, Uma Kashvi has been named vice-captain. She recently became the youngest player to secure a Women's Premier League (WPL) contract after Delhi Capitals signed her for Rs. 10 lakh. Rachita Hatwar and Shreya S. Chawan have been selected as the team's wicketkeepers.

The squad also includes aggressive opener Deeya Yadav and batting all-rounder Samaira Raghav, who has secured a WPL contract with Gujarat Giants.

All the players selected for the two teams recently featured in the Under-19 Women's T20 Challenger Trophy held in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Anaadi Tagde, Ira Jadhav and Nandhana Sridharan, who have been included in the India U-19 A squad, were reserve players for India's 2025 World Cup-winning team.

The tri-series will be played in a double round-robin format, with each team facing the other two sides twice. The top two teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the final, scheduled for November 22.

The tournament will begin on November 10 with a contest between India U-19 A and India U-19 B. India U-19 B will face Nepal on November 12, while India U-19 A will take on Nepal on November 14.

The second round of league matches will begin on November 16, when the two Indian teams meet again. India U-19 B will play Nepal on November 18, while India U-19 A will face Nepal in their final league fixture on November 20. The final will be held on November 22.

India U-19 A Squad: Bhavika Ahire (Captain and Wicketkeeper), Tanishka Sharma, Riya Bhati, Ira Jadhav (Vice-Captain), Nidhi Mahto, Ipsita Mondal, Purva Siwach, Mehek Narwase, Shambhavi Rajput (Wicketkeeper), Maitri Maniar, Julie Kumari, Gauri Goyal, Nandhana Sridharan, Preeti Kapoor and Grisha Kataria.

**India U-19 B Squad:** Anaadi Tagde (Captain), Uma Kashvi (Vice-Captain), Ishwari Awsare, Rachita Hatwar (Wicketkeeper), Deeya Yadav, Archana, Shreya S. Chawan (Wicketkeeper), Samaira Raghav, Kumari Palak, Achsah Parmar, Nishta Soti, Vidhi Parmar, Vandita K. Rao, Akshara Tiwari and Palak Singh.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar