Harmanpreet Kaur holds on to captaincy for NZ ODIs; Richa Ghosh to miss series for 12th board exams

Harmanpreet Kaur was retained as India’s captain for the three Women’s ODIs against New Zealand while the selectors also picked four uncapped players for the series starting October 24.

Days after India’s early exit from the T20 World Cup, questions were raised about Harmanpreet’s future as captain after another failure in an ICC event. However, the selectors have decided to stick with her for the moment.

The games against New Zealand in Ahmedabad will also mark the start of preparations for the ODI World Cup, which India hosts next year. The BCCI said Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, 21, was not available for the series as it coincided with her 12th standard board exams.

Asha Sobhana was not considered due to injury while all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar rested. The uncapped players who were part of the India A squad in Australia recently have been given an opportunity. They include Tejal Hasabnis, Sayali Satgare, and Priya Mishra.

Pacer Saima Thakor, who has played in the WPL, is another uncapped member of the squad. Smriti Mandhana, who was off-coloured in the T20 World Cup, has been named vice-captain. Batter Uma Chetry, who has played four T20 Internationals, is also part of the team and could make her ODI debut in the series.

All three games will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

India’s squad for the three ODI series against New Zealand:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, D 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.