IND vs ENG: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana star as India name strong squad Test and T20I series

Left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque, who impressed one and all during the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), received her maiden call-up for India as she was named in the squad for the three-match T20I series against England starting December 6 in Mumbai.

The T20I squad comprised mostly those who were part of the Asian Games gold-winning team in Hangzhou, which is a nice blend of seniors and juniors.

At one end there are seasoned campaigners like skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Pooja Vastrakar, and on the other, the selectors have also included rookies like spinner Mannat Kashyap, batters Kanika Ahuja, Shreyanka Patil, and talented pacer Titas Sadhu, to name a few.

The Test team doesn’t have too many surprises as Sadhu, an heir apparent to Jhulan Goswami, has been included along with Karnataka left-hander Shubha Satheesh, who was rewarded for her gritty batting in national one-dayers.

“The Women’s Selection Committee has selected the Team India (Senior Women) squad for the upcoming IDFC First Bank T20I series against England, as well as for the two Tests against England and Australia. The squad for the white-ball series against Australia will be picked later,” the BCCI said in its release

India’s squad for 3 T20Is vs England

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Kanika Ahuja, Minnu Mani.

India’s squad for Tests against England & Australia

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Shubha Satheesh, Harleen Deol, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar.