The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) announced its 15-player squad for the Women’s ICC T20 World Cup on August 27, 2023. The tournament will be held from October 3 to 20 in the United Arab Emirates, with matches taking place in Dubai and Sharjah. India has been placed in Group A, alongside tough competitors such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia, and New Zealand.
This squad selection is crucial as it reflects India’s readiness to challenge top global teams. Harmanpreet Kaur will captain the team, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain.
Yastika Bhatia, replacing Uma Chetry, will join as a lower-order batter, contingent on fitness. Dayalan Hemalatha is confirmed as a top-order player, while Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh will take on significant roles, including wicket keeping duties.
The bowling lineup features Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Sajana Sajeevan, and potentially Shreyanka Patil, pending her fitness test. The team presents a balanced mix of experience and youth, with Kaur expected to play a pivotal role in the tournament.
India’s squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan.
*Subject to fitness clearance
Traveling Reserves: Uma Chetry (WK), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor
Non-Travelling Reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra
Harmanpreet Aims to Give India Another Reasons to Celebrate at T20 World Cup
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, is channeling her team’s focus and motivation from the Indian men’s team’s T20 World Cup triumph in June.
Despite their previous close calls such as being runners-up in the 2020 T20 World Cup and losing in finals at both the Commonwealth Games and the ODI World Cup, the women’s team is committed to learning from past experiences.
Kaur emphasized the distinct pressures of World Cup tournaments, stating, “No team can be taken lightly or overestimated. We are working extremely hard to meet expectations, correcting past mistakes, and are ready with a positive mindset.”
She highlighted that the team is undergoing rigorous preparation, holding training camps, and addressing previous errors to ensure they are fully prepared.
Harmanpreet’s goal is to build on the men’s team’s success and provide another reason for India to celebrate by leading her team to victory in the T20 World Cup this October.