India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s World Cup that will be played in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3 this year was announced on January 6.
India squad: Mithali Raj (C), Harmanpreet Kaur (VC), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav
Player profile
Mithali Raj:
The captain of the Indian team is the leading run-getter in women’s cricket across all formats. India’s batting will revolve around her. She has already captained India to two World Cup finals and with this upcoming World Cup being her swan song, she will definitely look to get her hands on the trophy. Over her illustrious career of close to 23 years, this right-handed batter has scored 7623 runs in 204 ODI innings, including 62 half-centuries and seven centuries.
Harmanpreet Kaur:
After being out of international form for quite some time, this hard-hitting Indian batter regained her lost touch in the fifth and the last ODI against New Zealand before the World Cup. She muscled a 66-ball 63 to help India win the match by six wickets. She has featured in 111 ODIs to date and has mustered 2664 runs, including 13 half-centuries and three centuries. With the ball, the right arm off-spinner has 27 ODI wickets in 64 innings.
Smriti Mandhana:
India’s elegant opening batter will be a player to watch out for going into the World Cup. She struck her 20th half century in her last ODI before the World Cup in New Zealand and is looking good. Overall records suggest that she has registered 2461 runs in 64 ODIs, including four centuries. India will want this southpaw to give them a solid start during the World Cup.
Shafali Verma:
This right-handed opening batter is nothing less than a bundle of talent. Her hard-hitting abilities have been impressive and on a given day she can tear apart any bowling attack. In her brief ODI career so far, she has scored 260 runs in 11 innings, including a couple of half-centuries.
Yastika Bhatia:
She is a left handed top order batter and can bat in the middle order if required. She is blessed with a solid technique and has been remarkable in her short ODI stint so far. She has mustered 193 runs in seven innings, including one half-century. She has a decent strike rate of close to 75.
Deepti Sharma:
She is one of the best all-rounders in the Indian team. She is a left handed middle order batter and a right arm off-spinner. Though a middle-order bat, she has the ability to bat at the top of the order and even open the innings. She was the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded New Zealand series as she finished with 10 wickets in five ODIs. Overall, she has recorded 1720 runs and picked up 79 wickets in 69 ODIs.
Richa Ghosh:
This young wicket-keeper bat is a solid middle order bat and holds the capability to be a finisher. She is slowly and steadily growing up as a 360 degree player as she has almost all the cricketing shots in her repertoire. In the seven ODIs that she has played so far for India, she has plundered 222 runs, including two half-centuries. Behind the stumps, she is gradually becoming stronger in her skill.
Sneh Rana:
She is a right handed batter and a right arm off spinner. She has some incredible form behind her back especially since the England series that India played last year. To date, she has scored 102 runs in nine ODI innings and picked up 13 wickets in 14 innings. She is a bowling all-rounder and will be expected to contribute with both bat and ball in the upcoming World Cup.
Jhulan Goswami:
This right arm speedster in the leading wicket-taker in the world of women’s cricket. She is sharp, she is quick and she is accurate. She will lead India’s bowling attack and will be expected to provide the team with the early breakthroughs. She has played 195 ODIs for India and accounted for 245 ODI wickets, including two five-wicket hauls and seven four-wicket hauls. Apart from her impeccable bowling, she is more than a handy lower order bat. She has over a 1000 ODI runs.
Pooja Vastrakar:
She is a right handed batter and a right arm seamer. Since her debut in 2018, she has featured in 13 ODIs. With the ball, she has picked up six wickets in 12 innings and with the bat, she has mustered 190 runs, including one half century. Her numbers may not necessarily suggest her ability, but there is no doubt that she is a very talented cricketer.
Meghna Singh:
She is a right-arm seamer, who made her debut last year during the Australia series. She has played just the five ODIs so far and accounted for three wickets. She is a good new ball bowler and has the ability to swing the ball. She also has a good short ball in her repertoire. She is expected to share the new ball with Jhulan Goswami during the World Cup.
Renuka Singh Thakur:
This right-arm quick is new to international cricket, having made her debut last year against Australia. She has represented India in a couple of ODIs so far and has picked up three wickets. She is known for her consistency with her lines and lengths and can trouble any batter when she is in rhythm.
Taniya Bhatia:
She is a right handed batter and a wicket-keeper. She is quite flexible with her batting and can bat either at the top of the order or in the middle order. Behind the stumps, she is one of the safest houses in the world. In her ODI career of 19 matches so far, she has registered 138 runs, including a solitary half century.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad:
She is a left arm spinner, who has been around at the international level since 2014. She has played more than 50 ODIs for India and has accounted for 81 wickets, including the best of 5-15. She will form a part of India’s spin attack going into the World Cup.
Poonam Yadav:
The wily leg spinner is a genuine wicket-taking bowler. With 79 wickets in 57 ODIs, India will want her to take wickets in the middle overs. She bowls at an economy rate of under four and is perceived to be one of the toughest bowlers to get away with.
Reserves
Sabbhineni Meghana:
This right handed opening batter was a part of the recently concluded New Zealand series. With that series, she made her international comeback after five long years. She was impressive during the New Zealand series, as she piled up 114 runs in three ODI innings. She is an attacking batter and a fearless cricketer.
Simran Dil Bahadur:
She is a right arm seamer and a right handed batter. Apart from the four T20Is that she has played for India so far, she has featured in one ODI. She is a good new ball bowler and a hard hitting lower order bat.
Ekta Bisht:
She is a left arm spinner with an experience of 63 ODIs in her kitty. She has picked up 98 ODI wickets, including the best of 5-8. In the recently concluded New Zealand series, she featured in just the one ODI in which she struck with one wicket.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
