The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-member women's squad for the upcoming Asian Games, with Harmanpreet Kaur retaining the captaincy despite India's early exit from the Women's World Cup earlier this year. Smriti Mandhana has been named vice-captain for the tournament.
Squad Selection and Key Players
The squad features a mix of experienced players and emerging talent. Alongside Harmanpreet and Mandhana, the team includes stalwarts like Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Pooja Vastrakar. Youngsters such as Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh have also been included, reflecting a blend of youth and experience.
Notably, veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who retired from international cricket after the World Cup, is not in the squad. The BCCI selection committee, led by former India spinner Neetu David, opted for a balanced attack with both pace and spin options.
Asian Games Schedule and Format
The women's cricket event at the Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 19 to 24, 2023. India, placed in Group A, will begin their campaign against Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.
Cricket returns to the Asian Games after a gap of nine years, with both men's and women's tournaments featuring T20 format. India women are among the favorites, having won silver in the 2014 Incheon Games.
Harmanpreet's Captaincy Under Scrutiny
Harmanpreet's leadership faced criticism after India's group-stage exit in the Women's World Cup in New Zealand, where they lost to Australia, England, and South Africa. However, BCCI officials expressed confidence in her ability to lead the team. "Harmanpreet has been a successful captain, and we believe she can guide the team to gold in Hangzhou," a BCCI source said.
The squad announcement comes as a boost for women's cricket in India, which has seen increased investment and viewership. The Asian Games gold medal would be a significant achievement for the team.
Full Squad
The BCCI released the full squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Anjali Sarvani, Devika Vaidya, Sabbhineni Meghana, Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), and Renuka Singh Thakur.
