The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday selected the Indian squad for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024, scheduled to be held in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team, boasting a blend of experience and promising youngsters, will be looking to add another trophy to India’s dominant record in the tournament.
Harmanpreet at the Forefront, Mandhana as Her Lieutenant
Harmanpreet Kaur, a stalwart of Indian women’s cricket, will continue to lead the charge. She will be ably supported by Smriti Mandhana, the team’s vice-captain, who recently impressed with a string of centuries and a fifty in the ODI series against South Africa. Mandhana’s nomination for the ICC Player of the Month award further underlines her exceptional form.
Opener Shafali Verma, who has been battling a form slump, retains her place in the squad alongside Mandhana. The tournament presents an opportunity for Verma to rediscover her touch. Jemimah Rodrigues, another key player, might transition to a middle-order batting role based on observations from the recent ODI series.
Wicketkeeping Options and Bowling Backbone
The wicketkeeping duties will be entrusted to either Richa Ghosh or Uma Chetry. Ghosh’s recent performances against South Africa give her a slight edge in terms of selection for the starting XI. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by the in-form duo of Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav.
The selection committee’s decisions also included some tough calls. Sneh Rana, who impressed with her eight-wicket haul in the first innings of the Test match against South Africa and was part of the 2022 Women’s World Cup squad, was not included in the final selection. Similarly, Mumbai Indians’ star spinner Saika Ishaque, who had a successful international debut last year, finds herself among the reserves. However, young talents Sajana Sajeevan and Asha Sobhana earned their spots in the main squad.
India’s Road to the Eighth Title
India, the most successful team in the tournament’s history with seven titles to their name, has been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Nepal. The team’s opening match is against Pakistan on July 19, followed by clashes against UAE and Nepal on July 21 and 23 respectively.
With a strong core and a mix of experience and youthful talent, the Indian team is well-positioned to make a serious challenge for their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. Fans will be eager to see how the team navigates the tournament and if they can maintain their dominance in this prestigious competition.
India’s Squad for Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan Travelling Reserves: Shweta Sehrawat, Saika Ishaque, Tanuja Kanwer, Meghna Singh
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