The All-India Women’s Selection Committee on Wednesday introduced India’s squad for the upcoming 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup which begins in South Africa on February 10.
Fast bowling all-rounder Shikha Pandey has made a sensational return to the 15-member facet led by Harmanpreet Kaur. The 33-year-old Shikha final featured in a T20I in October 2021 in Australia earlier than being surprisingly excluded from the group earlier than the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup.
Shikha is India’s second-leading wicket-taking seamer in WT20Is (40) behind Jhulan Goswami. Shikha will take the place of seamer Meghna Singh who has been demoted to the reserves after a lacklustre run towards Australia.
While there have been no different highlights within the squad which largely picked itself, the BCCI said that all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar’s addition could be topic to health. Vastrakar had not too long ago missed India’s house collection towards Australia. Left-arm seamer Anjali Sarvani, who made a formidable debut within the recently-concluded collection, can also be set to function in her first T20 World Cup.
Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Devika Vaidya round-up India’s spin-bowling choices whereas off-spinner Sneh Rana was listed among the many reserves.
India, the runner-up of the earlier version, opens its marketing campaign Pakistan in Cape Town on February 12. Placed in Group B, India may even tackle England, Ireland and West Indies.
India may have a ultimate lap of preparation when it performs South Africa and West Indies in a tri-series event from January 19 in East London. Wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma and uncapped all-rounder Amanjot Kaur have been added to the squad for the seven-match collection which concludes on February 2.
India’s squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk) Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey
Reserves: Sabbhineni Meghana, Sneh Rana, Meghna Singh.
India’s squad for Tri-series: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice Captain), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Sushma Verma (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Sabbhineni Meghana, Sneh Rana, Shikha Pandey