The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced a 16-member squad for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022. Veteran Mithali Raj will lead the side with Harmanpreet Kaur as her deputy. The side also includes the veterans Jhulan Goswami, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Yadav, and young Shafali Verma, Yashtika Bhatia among others.
Star batter Jemimah Rodrigues and allrounder Shikha Pandey were the few notable absentees from the squad. Rodrigues failed to hit the double-figure mark the whole of last year in all the international assignments. She has only crossed double digits only 4 times out of the last 13 games. However, she looked in good touch during The Hundred tournament in England and the Big Bash League in Australia.
Sabbhineni Meghana, Ekta Bisht, and Simran Dil Bahadur have been named as three stand-by players. India has included two wicket-keepers for the tour in the form of Richa Ghosh and Taniya Bhatia. Team India will kickstart their 2022 World Cup with a high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.
The All India Women’s Selection Committee also named a 16-member squad for the lone T20 Internationals which will be played on February 9 before the ODIs. The one-off T20 and the first ODI against New Zealand will be hosted by Napier. Followed by the remaining 50-over games in Nelson on February 14 and 16, and Queenstown on February 22 and 24.
India squad for Women’s World Cup 2022
Team India for 5 ODIs against NZ & ICC Women’s World Cup, 2022: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav.
Standby Players: Sabbhineni Meghana, Ekta Bisht, Simran Dil Bahadur.
One-off T20I against New Zealand: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Sabbhineni Meghna, Simran Dil Bahadur.
ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 – India’s fixtures
| Date | Against | Venue |
| March 6th | Pakistan | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
| March 10th | New Zealand | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| March 12th | West Indies | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| March 16th | England | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
| March 19th | Australia | Eden Park, Auckland |
| March 22nd | Bangladesh | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| March 27th | South Africa | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
Schedule for New Zealand tour
| Date | Match | Venue |
| February 9th | Only T20I | McLean Park, Napier |
| February 11th | 1st ODI | McLean Park, Napier |
| February 14th | 2nd ODI | Saxton Oval, Nelson |
| February 16th | 3rd ODI | Saxton Oval, Nelson |
| February 22nd | 4th ODI | John Davies Oval, Queenstown |
| February 24th | 5th ODI | John Davies Oval, Queenstown |
