India women are the defending champions of the Asia Cup as they secured the title in 2022, defeating Sri Lanka comfortably in Sylhet. Jemimah Rodrigues was India’s highest run-getter in the tournament.
The defending champions Women in Blue have not surprised anyone with their squad selection, as out of the 17-member squad playing against South Africa in the current series, 15 members were included in the squad for the Asia Cup to be held in Dambulla.
However, India has left out some vital names like Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Yastika Bhatia, and Harleen Deol from the list of players who are a regular part of the side and have BCCI contracts as well.
Let’s take a good look at the full squad of players chosen for India’s Asia Cup campaign.
Batters
On the batting front, India possesses extreme class and talent, as they have the likes of world-class cricketers led by their skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
Jemimah Rodrigues was India’s highest run-getter in the competition in the previous edition of the game and is currently the best in the format as she has impressed owners of the franchise teams with her performance. She will be India’s most trustworthy aid on the batting front.
Smriti Mandhana: The only adjective that suits her name is the ‘best’. Mandhana has been India’s best batter in the shortest format of the game and also the second-highest run scorer for the Women in Blue. With 3000+ runs and her superior form, Mandhana remains to be India’s most reliable batter.
Harmanpreet Kaur: The Indian skipper has been the highest run-getter in the format and has even more experience in the format than ex-captain Mithali Raj. Kaur, though not the most consistent yet, has rescued Indian women from several dire situations of trouble and has been a match-winner for them and will continue to be so.
Shefali Verma: India’s young sensation, has been roaring in international cricket ever since her debut in the format. Known for her fearless stance and six-hitting prowess, Verma will be desired to fire in.
Alongside these players, India will have the services of their all-rounders and Dayalan Hemalatha.
All-Rounders
T20, the shortest format, is quite often known as the all-rounders game. The format demands players who can perform from both ends, and their fitness allows them great game time.
Deepti Sharma
India’s likely most experienced cricketer after skipper Kaur. She has been a part of the Indian set-up for years and will remain to be in years to come, as he seems irreplaceable from the Women in Blue. Sharma has 1000+ runs in the format despite batting down the order, and her wicket tally gets filled now and then.
Pooja Vastrakar
In recent times, Vastrakar has been India’s go-to all-rounder, much like Hardik Pandya from the Men’s team. Pooja is a clean hitter of the white ball and has been provided with different roles as a bowler. She has excelled for Women in Blue with the ball in the powerplay and death with both the new and the old ball. Her contribution will be inevitable if India looks to go on the quest for defending their title and be the champions of Asia for the 8th time in 9 competitions since 2004.
Sajeevan Sajana
Sajana has been recently made a part of Team India’s squad, and the batter has had quite a season domestically. She is a right-handed batter and bowls right-arm off break, equally efficient to replace Sneh Rana, who has been dropped from the format.
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Wicket-keepers
Richa Ghosh: India’s main front-line batter and wicketkeeper, Richa has been a stunning addition since her initial days. Ghosh is a fearless striker of the cricket ball and brings immense power to the side.
Uma Chetry: The Assam women’s cricketer has now been in the Indian side for quite some time, though he has not often been provided with much game time due to the batting prowess of Richa.
Bowlers
Shreyanka Patil: Since her excellent campaign in the WPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore that led them to a title clinch, the first ever for the franchise in the IPL. The spinner can be an asset for the team, especially when playing in the subcontinent.
Renuka Singh: She was India’s most stunning performer in the previous edition of the Asia Cup in 2022, with the ball. Singh is probably the only full-time pace bowler in the side, while others like Vastrakar and Reddy are more among the all-rounders.
INDIA Women’s full squad for Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shefali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Uma Chetry, Richa Ghosh, Dayalan Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Sajeevan Sajana, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Asha Sobhana, and Radha Yadav.
