New Delhi: Harmanpreet Kaur recieved a lifeline as India’s captain after being retained for the leadership role for the three-match Women’s ODI series against New Zealand. The selectors kept faith in Harmanpreet amid uncertainty looming over her captaincy future following a shock exit from the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Four uncapped players were also picked for the series starting October 24.
After India were knocked out in the group stages of the T20 World Cup, Harmanpreet’s future as captain looked uncertain with questions being raised about her leadership capabilities.
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Despite yet another failure in an ICC event, selectors have decided to stick with her for the moment.
The road to ODI World Cup 2025
India will start their preparations for the ODI World Cup 2025 at home with the ODI series against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, 21, has opted out as the series coincides with her 12th standard board exams, according to a BCCI statement.
Leg-spinner Asha Sobhana will miss the series due to an injury while all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar has been rested.
India’s young brigade
The sectors have picked the uncapped quartet Tejal Hasabnis, Sayali Satgare, Priya Mishra and Saima Thakor. While Hasabnis, Satgare and Priya were part of the India A squad in Australia recently, Thakor, who has experience playing in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), has also been given a chance to show her ability on the international stage.
Uma Chettry in line to make T20I debut
Smriti Mandhana, who was under fire for a lacklustre show at the T20 World Cup, has been named vice-captain. Wicket-keeper batter Uma Chetry, who has featured in four T20 Internationals, is in line to make her ODI debut in the series.
All three fixtures of the series will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
India’s squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, D Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Sayali Satgare, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Tejal Hasabnis, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil.
