Fresh faces headline India's squad for Australia Test
As many as five players have received their maiden Test call-ups as India announced a 15-member squad for the one-off Test against Australia Women to be played in Perth from March 6. Pratika Rawal, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma and Sayali Satghare are the five players featuring in the India Test squad for the first time.
India Test squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Thakur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare
Rawal returns to the India setup having last featured in their victorious 2025 World Cup campaign, with her participation cut short due to a hairline fracture to her right ankle. Rawal is also part of the UP Warriorz squad in the ongoing Women's Premier League but is yet to feature in it, with the team still awaiting a medical clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.
Shafali Verma, who replaced Rawal in the semifinal and the final of the World Cup, retains her place in the Test team. She had opened alongside vice-captain Smriti Mandhana in India's last five Tests and also scored a career-best 205 against South Africa in her previous Test outing.
Middle order batter Harleen Deol also returns to the Test team having last featured in squads for the Tests against England and Australia in 2023. She is yet to make her Test debut. Test new-comer Amanjot is among the other middle order options along with Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues. Richa Ghosh and Uma Chetry are the wicketkeepers in the India squad.
Chetry is yet to make her Test debut while Ghosh has played two Tests, with her last appearance against South Africa coming as the designated wicketkeeper. Chetry has also been named in India's T20I and ODI squads as replacement for G Kamalini, who was recently ruled out of the WPL due to a shoulder injury.
Among the spin options are all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, along with another newcomer Vaishnavi. Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud and allrounder Amanjot are the seam options in the team.
Meanwhile, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Meghna Singh and Priya Punia, who were all part of the Test squad against South Africa, are the players to miss out.
Radha Yadav to captain India A in Asia Cup
The Women's Selection Committee also named a 15-member India A squad for the ACC Rising Star Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format. Radha Yadav will captain the team which also includes the likes of Vrinda Dinesh, Anushka Sharma and Nandni Sharma among others. Deeya Yadav and Mamta M are also part of the squad but their participation is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI's COE.
The tournament will be held from February 13 to 22 in Thailand. India A are grouped alongside UAE, Pakistan and A and Nepal in Group B. India A's first match is against UAE on February 13. They play Pakistan on February 15 followed by their final group game against Nepal on February 17. Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Malaysia and hosts Thailand are in Group B. The semifinals will be played on February 20, with the final two days later.
India A squad for ACC Rising Star Asia Cup: Humairaa Kaazi, Vrinda Dinesh, Anushka Sharma, Deeya Yadav, Tejal Hasabnis, Nandani Kashyap (wk), Mamta M (wk), Radha Yadav (c), Sonia Mendhiya, Minnu Mani, Tanuja Kanwer, Prema Rawat, Saima Thakor, Jintamani Kalita, Nandni Sharma.
