Detailed analysis of the Squads for U23 Women’s Challengers Trophy

Women’s U-23 One Day Challenger trophy will be a 5-day tournament starting from April 20 to April 24. At the end of the tournament 22 players will be selected to play for India A.

The schedule of the tournament is as under:
20 April, 2019: India Red Vs India Blue (9 am)
21 April, 2019: India Blue Vs India Green (9am)
22 April, 2019: India Green Vs India Red (9am)
24 April, 2019: Finals (9 am)

The teams selected as per All India Women’s Selection Committee:

INDIA RED

1. Harleen Deol (C): An off-spinner turned leg-spinner and an opening batswoman, Harleen Deol had a good season playing for Himachal and then India red. She made 119 runs in three matches for India Red. She was then also called to play for India against England early this year.
2. Ravi Kalpana (wk): She was called to play for India in the recent series against England after 3 years. A right hand keeper batsman, R Kalpana has contributed creditably behind the stumps for India Red and consequently heading the team to win the Challengers trophy this year. She had a sufficient good run for the Railways also.
3. Tejal Hasabnis: The top scorer of Maharashtra this season, she took 18 wickets in 8 matches in Senior U-23 league. She can bolster the middle order bating and the team’s bowling attack through her spin.
4. S Meghana: Having captained India Green in the U-23 T20 Challenger trophy in October last year, she led her team from the front in the final match against India Red and scored an unbeaten 34 runs while chasing a target of 76 runs. She used to play for Andhra women until she started playing for Railways.
5. C H Jhansi Lakshmi: One of the most important all-rounders for India Red is CH Jhansi Lakshmi. She smashed 126 runs off 142 balls for Andhra. Her excellent form in the recent India U-23 One Day League is a positive for India Red.
6. Tejaswini Duragad: Tejaswini has captained Goa U-16 team and currently leads Goa U-19 team. Her recent all-round performance in Elite Group C Women’s U-19 One Day tournament would definitely invigorate India Red dugout.
7. Arundhati Reddy: Being a fast Bowler, Arundhati Reddy has the capability of taking wickets at important times. She made her debut for India in 2018.

Complete Squad:

Harleen Deol (C), S Meghana, Tejal Hasabnis, Arundhati Reddy, R Kalpana (wk), Ridhima Aggarwal, Renuka Chaudhary, Devyani Prasad, CH Jhansilakshmi, Shanti Kumari, Ruzu Saha, Suman Meena, Tejaswini Duragad.

INDIA GREEN

1. Sushree Dibyadarshini (C): An off spinner and a right handed batswoman, she also leads the Orissa U-23 team.
2. Yastika Bhatia: 19-year-old Yastika has captained the west zone women’s cricket team. She alone scored 230 runs for team Baroda in West zone under-19 in 2016 and went on to score a century the next year. She is the second wicket keeper for India Green.
3. Drishya I.V: Drishya is an opening Batswoman for Kerala. She made unbeaten 76 runs in the opening match of Southern Zone U-23 League. Kerala went on to beat Mumbai in the final match and win the trophy. She scored 28 not out in the final.
4. A Akshaya: Akshaya bats for Kerala and was the highest run scorer for Kerala in the final match of the U-23 women’s team BCCI Super League with her 37 runs to beat Maharashtra and help Kerala to win their first ever title
5. Renuka Singh: Pacer Renuka Singh has the ability to take crucial wickets for India Green. She took important wickets for Himachal in Senior Women ODI League.
6. Manali Dakshini: Manali Dakshini was the star for India Blue in the Challenger Trophy this year. Her consistent and an all-round performance for India Blue led the team to play the finals against India Red.
7. Priya Punia: Her centuries against Tamil Nadu and Gujarat for Delhi in Senior Women One Day International League made her the fourth player to score two centuries in the tournament. She made her debut in T20I for India against England, early this year.

Complete Squad:

Sushree Dibyadarshini (C), Priya Punia, Radha Yadav, Shivali Shinde (wk), Manali Dakshini, Renuka Singh, Yastika Bhatia, S Anusha, Akshaya A, Rashi Kanojia, Ekta Singh, Drishya I.V, Ayushi Garg.

INDIA BLUE:

1. Devika Vaidya (C): She was the highest run-scorer in U-23 T20. An all-rounder from Maharashtra, Devika is best remembered for her innings of 81* runs in a world cup Qualifier match that happened to be her second international ODI.
2. Indrani Roy:  Indrani Roy’s current form while playing for Jharkhand Green in JSCA Women’s U-23 T20 challenger trophy this year can be an asset for India Blue. She bats and can be the second wicket-keeper for India Blue as well.
3. Vrushali Bhagat: Vrushali plays for Maharashtra. She has played match-winning innings for Mumbai in Senior Women T20 championship and was a part of India Red in Challengers Trophy played at the start of this year,
4. C Pratyusha: She has been the vice-captain of Karnataka U-23. Her spin attack in the last year’s Challengers trophy led India Blue to win the trophy. She took 4 wickets conceding only 23 runs in the final match against India Green.
5. Shefali Verma: Her knock of 132 runs not out in 63 balls for Haryana in U-23 T20 brought her praises. Her expeditious 21 runs from 12 balls led India Green to win the trophy in U-19 Challenger trophy.
6. Nuzhat Parween (wk): Playing for Madhya Pradesh, she also was the vice-captain of Central Zone U-19 Cricket Team. She debuted for India in 2016 and was a part of the world cup team as well in 2017.
7. Tanuja Kanwer: She was among the star players for India Blue in the Challengers trophy. She plays for Himachal and has also been a part of India A.

Complete Squad:

Devika Vaidya (C), Shafali Verma, Tanushree Sarkar, Simran, Nuzhat Parween (wk), Minnu Mani, Prativa Rana, C Pratyusha, Tanuja Kanwer, Indrani Roy, Vrushali Bhagat, Kshama Singh, Simran Dil Bahadur.