Asha, Sajana earn maiden call-ups to India Women squad for Bangladesh series
The composition of the squad is in line with captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s pre-WPL commitment to trying to ensure opportunities for the top performers with the T20 World Cup in mind. The global tournament is set to be played in September-October this year in Bangladesh.
Asha, meanwhile, became the first Indian to pick up a five-for in the WPL. In all, she was the second-highest wicket-taker (12 scalps) in the competition as RCB turned around a dismal first season with a championship-winning run this year.
Like Asha, Radha also forced herself back on the back of an impressive showing for runners-up Delhi Capitals, picking ten wickets in nine games at an economy rate of 7.48.
Allrounders Minnu Mani and Kanika Ahuja along with left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap miss out from the squad that was picked for the home T20Is against Australia in January this year. Ahuja is understood to still be recuperating from an injury that forced her out of WPL 2024.
Given the tour will likely be played on slow turners, the squad is predominantly spin-heavy. Deepti Sharma will lead the spin attack with Shreyanka Patil, the highest wicket-taker in WPL 2024, Saika Ishaque, Asha and Radha all having presented compelling cases to be part of the first XI.
Renuka Singh Thakur and Titas Sadhu are the two frontline pacers with Pooja Vastrakar and Amanjot Kaur as the seam-bowling allrounders. Richa Ghosh is expected to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, while Yastika Bhatia, who has presented a case to be considered as a pure batter, is likely to be a back-up.
India’s T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, D Hemalatha, Sajana Sajeevan, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, S Asha, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu.