Fresh off a semi-final exit in the ongoing 9th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup—their first since 2016—the senior Indian women’s team is scheduled to face New Zealand in a 3-match One-Day International (ODI) series on home soil, as preparations pick up pace for the 2025 ODI World Cup.
Leading up to the 2024 World Cup, India had a mixed T20I campaign, losing 1-2 to Australia on home, sweeping Bangladesh in a 5-match away series, and drawing with South Africa after being 0-1 down, with one game abandoned due to rain. Their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup ended with a final defeat to Sri Lanka.
Despite extensive preparations focusing on skills and fielding, India suffered a heavy 58-run loss to New Zealand in their World Cup opener, bowled out for 102 after conceding 160 runs. They bounced back by restricting Pakistan to 105/8 and winning by 6 wickets, then recorded an 82-run victory over Sri Lanka, posting 172/3 and bowling them out for 90. However, they lost their final league match to Australia by 9 runs, ending their campaign.
India will now turn their attention to the 50-over World Cup scheduled for next year on home soil. A host of changes have been made to India’s squad from their most recent series against South Africa, with Richa Ghosh, Asha Sobhana, Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar, and Priya Punia making way for Yastika Bhatia, Sayali Satgare, Tejal Hasabnis, Saima Thakor, and Priya Mishra.
#ICYMI 🇮🇳 India’s Squad for 3 ODIs vs New Zealand was announced yesterday.
All 3 matches to be held in Ahmedabad (24, 27, 29 October)#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/R7JcQgwv7r
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 18, 2024
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Asha Sobhana, who suffered a knee injury during the warm-up ahead of the Australia game, is unavailable for selection as she continues to nurse her injury. Richa Ghosh remains unavailable due to her 12th standard board exams, and star pacer Pooja Vastrakar has been granted much-needed rest after a long run.
Left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque, who did not feature in any game during the home South Africa series in June, has also been dropped, along with opening batter Priya Punia, who played only one game during that series and had a below-par performance in the ‘A’ series against Australia.
Fit-again Yastika Bhatia returns to the ODI team after being part of the T20 World Cup squad, although she did not feature in that campaign. Standout talents from India’s ‘A’ tour of Australia, Tejal Hasabnis (166 runs from 3 One-Day matches) and Priya Mishra (5 wickets from just one match), have been rewarded with call-ups, alongside seasoned domestic players Sayali Satgare and Saima Thakor. Notably, Raghavi Bist, who scored 205 runs from 3 One-Day matches in the ‘A’ tour of Australia, awaits a call-up to the ODI team.
India’s squad for the home New Zealand series:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Dayalan 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
India vs New Zealand, series schedule:
1st ODI: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 1:30 PM IST, October 24
2nd ODI: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 1:30 PM IST, October 27
3rd ODI: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 1:30 PM IST, October 29
In the ICC Women’s Championship (2022/23-25), India is placed 5th with 10 wins from 12 games, having lost only one match and tied another. New Zealand ranks 6th, with 8 wins, 8 defeats, and 2 no-results from 18 games. This upcoming series against India is crucial for New Zealand to climb the rankings.
India and New Zealand have faced each other in 54 ODIs, with India winning 20 matches and losing 33, alongside one tie. In their last bilateral series in 2022, India suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat to New Zealand, and the two teams last played a bilateral series in India back in 2015.
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