The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the squads for the Women in Blue’s upcoming multi-format tour of Australia. Scheduled to begin in mid-February, the tour is a critical assignment for India as they look to assert dominance against the world’s top-ranked side in their own backyard.
The announcement brings a mix of seasoned leadership and fresh talent, with several notable recalls and maiden call-ups that signal a shift in India’s tactical approach for the 2026 season.
Shreyanka Patil returns to T20I setup
The most significant news from the T20I squad announcement is the return of Shreyanka Patil and Bharti Fulmali. Patil, who has been sidelined due to injury, returns to bolster the spin department, while Fulmali earns her first call-up since 2019 following an explosive season in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Her ability to act as a finisher in the lower-middle order appears to be the primary reason for her inclusion.
Key omissions and strategic shifts
To make room for the new talent, some established names have missed out. Harleen Deol has been dropped from the T20I squad but retains her place in the ODIs. The ODI squad also features exciting new additions. Vaishnavi Sharma and 17-year-old wicketkeeper G Kamalini have earned their maiden international call-ups. Meanwhile, Kashvee Gautam returns to the 50-over setup, as the selectors look to build depth following India’s recent World Cup triumph. The selectors have opted to move on from Yastika Bhatia, Radha Yadav, and Arundhati Reddy (who remains in the T20I squad only), signaling a desire to test younger options like Kamalini and Sharma under Australian conditions.
The tour will feature three T20Is, three ODIs, and a historic one-off Test match. While the white-ball squads are locked in, the BCCI has noted that the squad for the Pink-Ball Test in Perth will be announced at a later date.
India’s T20I squad for Australia tour: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil
India’s ODI squad for Australia tour: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
