Harmanpreet Kaur to Lead 15-member India Squad for ICC Women's T20 World Cup

India have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 set to be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 3. Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the side with opening batter Smriti Mandhana named as  her deputy.

The T20I showpiece was originally to be held in Bangladesh but due to the political turmoil in the country, it was shifted to UAE. The ninth edition of the tournament starts from October 3 with the final to be played on October 20.

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India are in Group A along with Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Mandhana will have the company of big-hitter Shafali Verma as opener with Dayalan Hemalatha another strong top-order batting option.

The middle-order comprises the likes of Jemimah Rodrigues, skipper Harmanpreet, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh who is also the designated wicketkeeper.

There’s a backup wicketkeeper option in Yastika Bhatia but her selection is subject to fitness as is the case with young spinner Shreyanka Patil who has also made the cut in the world cup squad.

Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh and Arundhati Reddy will lead the pace attack while the spin department will be handled by Deepti, Asha Sobhana and Radha Yadav. Uma Chetry, Tanuja Kanwer and Saima Thakor have been named as the traveling reserves.

India’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk)*, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil*, Sajana Sajeevan.

*Subject to fitness clearance

Travelling Reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor

Non-Travelling Reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra

India will open their campaign against New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai before taking on Pakistan a day later. They will next face Sri Lanka on October 9 before finishing their group engagements by taking on defending champions Australia in Sharjah.