India Women’s Squad and Schedule Announced for ODI Series Against New Zealand 2024

Following their group stage exit from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this month, the Indian women's cricket team is set to return to action in a highly anticipated ODI series against New Zealand. The Women’s Selection Committee has announced a 16-member squad for the three-match IDFC FIRST Bank ODI series, which will take place on home soil. This series will be a crucial opportunity for India to regain momentum and refine their strategies ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

India’s 16-Member Squad

The Indian team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talent. Star batter Smriti Mandhana has been named vice-captain, and other key players include the dynamic Shafali Verma, dependable all-rounder Deepti Sharma, and in-form batter Jemimah Rodrigues.

The squad also features two wicketkeepers—Yastika Bhatia and Uma Chetry—while Sayali Satgare, Shreyanka Patil, and Tejal Hasabnis are notable inclusions, offering depth in both the bowling and batting departments.

India’s squad for the ODI series:

• Harmanpreet Kaur (C)
• Smriti Mandhana (VC)
• Shafali Verma
• D Hemalatha
• Deepti Sharma
• Jemimah Rodrigues
• Yastika Bhatia (wk)
• Uma Chetry (wk)
• Sayali Satgare
• Arundhati Reddy
• Renuka Singh Thakur
• Tejal Hasabnis
• Saima Thakor
• Priya Mishra
• Radha Yadav
• Shreyanka Patil

Schedule for the ODI Series

All three matches in the ODI series will be played at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The schedule is as follows:

1. 1st ODI: October 24, 2024 (Thursday), 1:30 PM IST
2. 2nd ODI: October 27, 2024 (Sunday), 1:30 PM IST
3. 3rd ODI: October 29, 2024 (Tuesday), 1:30 PM IST

The team will miss the services of several prominent players. Richa Ghosh, who was unavailable for selection due to her 12th standard board exams, will be a notable absentee behind the stumps. Asha Sobhana, meanwhile, is recovering from an injury and was ruled out of the squad. Additionally, all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar has been rested for this series.

India’s performance in this series will be closely watched as they aim to bounce back from the disappointment of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The absence of key players like Richa Ghosh and Asha Sobhana opens the door for younger talents to step up and make a mark. With seasoned players such as Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana leading the charge, and rising stars like Shafali Verma and Shreyanka Patil showing promise, India will be keen to dominate the New Zealand side on home turf.

This series also gives India an opportunity to experiment with new combinations and strategies, particularly with an eye on the next ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The inclusion of new faces like Sayali Satgare and Priya Mishra suggests that the team management is focused on building a well-rounded unit that can handle different match situations and conditions.

New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to challenge India with their own set of experienced players and promising young talent. The ODI series promises to be an exciting contest between two competitive teams, setting the stage for high-quality cricket