Shikha Pandey made a shock return to India’s 15-member squad for the Women’s 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa. File.
| Photo Credit: Vivek Bendre
Veteran pacer Shikha Pandey on Wednesday made a shock return to India’s 15-member squad for the Women’s 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
The ICC occasion shall be performed from February 10 to 26.
Shikha final performed for India in October 2021 earlier than being controversially dropped from the workforce. Her inclusion additionally exhibits the shortage of depth within the tempo bowling division.
The 33-year-old, whose energy is to swing the ball, has featured in three Tests, 55 ODIs and 56 T20s.
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the facet with Smriti Mandhana being her deputy.
Jemimah Rodrigues has managed to retain her place within the workforce regardless of low returns in India’s 1-4 sequence loss to the mighty Australia.
Left-arm pacer Anjali Sarvani can be a part of the workforce following her debut sequence in opposition to Australia. The different tempo bowling choices embody Renuka Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar, whose inclusion within the squad is topic to health.
The Australia sequence uncovered India’s frailties within the bowling division and workforce has a whole lot of work to do earlier than the ICC occasion.
The spinners within the workforce embody all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya moreover Radha Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh are already in South Africa with the U-19 workforce.
India had misplaced to Australia within the 2020 T20 World Cup ultimate on the MCG.
The BCCI additionally introduced the squad for the tri-series that may happen earlier than the World Cup.
The World Cup reserves – Sneh Rana, S Meghana and Meghna Singh – are a part of the tri-series squad. The tri-series involving India, South Africa and West Indies begins January 19.
Sushma Verma, who final performed for India in March 2021, has made a comeback for the tri-series. Uncapped all-rounder Amanjot Kaur is the lone contemporary face within the squad.
India will open their tri-series marketing campaign in opposition to hosts South Africa on January 19 earlier than going through West Indies on January 23. All groups play one another twice earlier than the ultimate on February 2.
Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk) Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey.
India’s squad for Tri-series: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice Captain), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Shushma Verma (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Sabbhineni Meghana, Sneh Rana, Shikha Pandey.
