Follow UsLeg spinner Poonam Yadav was named among the three standbys alongside keeper-batter Richa Ghosh and allrounder Simran Bahadur for Indian women's squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham starting on July 29.
Harmanpreet Singh will lead the team with opener Smriti Mandhana named as her deputy. Jemimah Rodrigues, who was dropped for the ODI World Cup in New Zealand, was picked in the squad following her impressive performances in the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.
Taniya Bhatia and Yastika Bhatia have been named as the wicketkeepers in the squad with Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh and Renuka Singh forming the pace trident.
"The All-India Women’s Selection Committee met on Monday to pick the squad for the forthcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This will be the first time that Women’s T20 International will be featured in the prestigious multi-sport event," the BCCI said in a release on Monday.
Cricket featured at the multi-sport event only once at the 1998 Kaula Lumpur where South Africa men's team beat Australia in the 50-over final to clinch the gold medal. New Zealand won the bronze on the occasion.
India is in Group A with Australia, Barbados, and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, and South Africa are placed in Group B. The top two teams from the respective pools will progress to the semi-finals.
India will face off against reigning world champions Australia on July 29 followed by the clash against Pakistan on July 31 and face Barbados on August 3. All the matches will be played in T20 format at Edgbaston.
Team India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, S. Meghana, Taniya Bhatia (Wk), Yastika Bhatia (Wk), Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana.