India announce their squad for 2022 Women's World Cup

Cricket Desk: The All-India Women’s Selection Committee has picked up the squad for Women’s World Cup 2022 where veteran Mithali Raj will take the charge while Harmanpreet Kaur has been named her deputy. Team India is set to play their first World Cup fixture against Pakistan on March 6, 2022, at the Bay Oval, Tauranga.

The India women’s squad will also feature in the five-match ODI series starting from February 11 which will act as their preparation ground ahead of the high-profile event. Talking of the WC schedule, after facing Pakistan, India will rub shoulders against New Zealand (March 10), West Indies (March 12), England (March 16), Australia (March 19), Bangladesh (March 22), and South Africa (March 27) in the group stage.

India’s squad for WC 2022 and five ODIs against NZ: Mithali Raj (C), Harmanpreet Kaur (VC), Smriti, Shafali, Yastika, Deepti, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sneh Rana, Jhulan, Pooja, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya (WK), Rajeshwari, Poonam.

Standby Players: S. Meghna, Ekta Bisht, Simran Dil Bahadur

India Women’s squad for one-off T20I against New Zealand: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali, Yastika, Deepti, Richa (WK), Sneh Rana, Pooja, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya (WK), Rajeshwari, Poonam, Ekta, S. Meghna, Simran Dil Bahadur

We are getting to play in NZ before WC which is also good: Mithali Raj

Talking of the roadway to the World Cup 2022, India skipper Mithali Raj recently added that playing against the three best teams has given them good preparation, and playing against NZ just before WC 2022 will further boost their chances.

“We have played three best teams since March and it has given us good preparation. Players have played domestic cricket and also in the Women’s Big Bash so they are getting game time which is the most important thing. We are getting to play in New Zealand before World Cup which is also good,” said Raj earlier.

“There were not enough expectations back then. Now in 2021 players have got experience and got a lot of exposure with the T20 leagues. Overall, we have young players but they have got enough exposure. It is just of matter of gelling well as a team,” she added.