When India’s women’s cricket team travelled to South Africa for a bilateral series, the national selection committee had picked Kashvee Gautam as a replacement for all-rounder Amanjot Kaur. However, as the tour progressed, Kashvee too picked up a right knee injury.
On Saturday, when the selectors met to pick the squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, both Kashvee and Amanjot were left out due to injuries.
According to selection committee chair Amita Sharma, Kashvee “will now have to undergo a surgery” as her right knee injury is quite serious, while Amanjot will be out of action for four to five months.
In their absence, the selectors brought in experienced campaigner Yastika Bhatia, uncapped fast bowler Nandani Sharma and Radha Yadav for the tournament, to be held in June-July in England. None of the three featured in India’s most recent T20I series in South Africa, which the team lost 1-4.
Amita also revealed that Pratika Rawal was discussed, but Yastika got the nod due to her experience. “Pratika’s name was considered. There has been a discussion on it. But Yastika is a little more experienced and with wicket keeping, she gives the option of top-order batting, and that’s why we have gone towards Yastika,” Amita said.
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PowerPlay is the key
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that lessons from the South Africa tour—where India struggled in the PowerPlay—will shape their approach going forward.
“PowerPlay is very important. If you are batting, you have to target runs in the PowerPlay. If you are bowling, you have to get a couple of wickets in the PowerPlay. At the same time, once the PowerPlay is set, the game starts. We want to work hard on how we have to go about in the PowerPlay. Secondly, we don’t focus on the middle overs, but they play a very big role. We do have a plan,” Harmanpreet said.
The team will assemble at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru next week for a preparatory camp before departing for England on May 22.
India squad for Women’s T20 World Cup
Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Bharti Fulmali, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandani Sharma, Radha Yadav
Published on May 02, 2026