India have announced their 15-member squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 which is set to begin in February.
Harmanpreet Kaur is set to lead India for the third consecutive time in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with Smriti Mandhana acting as her deputy.
Pacer Shikha Pandey, who last played a T20I for India in October 2021 makes her return as she was named in the 15-member squad for the marquee event.
Pooja Vastrakar suffered an injury ahead of the series against Australia earlier this month. Though she has been named in the squad, her inclusion is subject to fitness. Anjali Sarvani, the left-arm pacer who made her debut in the T20I series against Australia, too finds a place in the squad.
Opener Sabbhineni Meghana, all-rounder Sneh Rana and fast bowler Meghna Singh are among the reserves.
Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, 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 also announced the squad for the tri-series in South Africa involving the Proteas and West Indies in preparation for the T20 World Cup.
Tri-series squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Shushma Verma, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Sabbhineni Meghana, Sneh Rana, Shikha Pandey.
India are placed in Group B alongside England, Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies. Their World Cup campaign begins on 12 February with the clash against their neighbours Pakistan in Cape Town. The top two teams from each group will make it to the semi-finals.
India were finalists in the last edition of the T20 World Cup in 2020 but stumbled in the last hurdle against Australia. Harmanpreet Kaur and team will not only be looking to replicate the performances from 2020 but go one step further when they head to South Africa.
