India squad for Women’s T20 World Cup, tri-series in South Africa announced; Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar return

After agonising over exclusion from the India squad for almost 14 months, seasoned medium-pacer Shikha Pandey made a comeback after being named in the 15-member squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup to be played in South Africa in February.

Despite enjoying a good season playing for Goa and then being part of India D that won the Challengers Trophy that raised hopes of a comeback, Shikha was not picked for the five-match T20I series against Australia.

With spearhead Jhulan Goswami retired, the pace attack led by Renuka Thakur looked ordinary against Australia, who won the series 4-1 in Mumbai. Shikha last featured in a T20I in October 2021 in Australia before being surprisingly excluded before the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand.

The selectors showed faith in medium-pacers Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar in Shikha’s absence but the Goa captain’s experience seems to have been taken into account for an important event like the World Cup.

Pooja Vastrakar was included subject to proving her fitness, having missed the series against Australia. Left-arm medium-pacer Anjali Sarvani came in while seamer Meghna Singh, who featured in two of the Australia T20Is but didn’t take a wicket, has been named among the three reserves.

India, runners-up in the previous edition, open their campaign against Pakistan in Cape Town on February 12. The tournament will be played from February 10 to 26.

The BCCI also announced the squad for a tri-series in South Africa in the build-up to the World Cup, starting on January 19. India will square off against hosts South Africa and West Indies in the tri-series. The tournament will start with India facing South Africa at Buffalo Park, East London.

Wicket-keeper Sushma Verma from Himachal Pradesh has made a comeback in that squad as Richa Ghosh is unavailable due to her participation in the U-19 Women’s World Cup, to be held in South Africa next month. Opener Shafali Verma, who is captain of the junior Cup squad, will also come in only after the tri-series.

All-rounder Sneh Rana, who missed out in the World Cup squad, is in the side for the Tri-series.

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the side in both tournaments with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.