The transition in India’s women’s cricket leadership will enter a new phase in South Africa, with Smriti Mandhana set to lead the national side across all three formats in December. Alongside the leadership change, the return of Jemimah Rodrigues following an extended injury layoff and opportunities for emerging players headline India’s squad announcement for the upcoming multi-format tour.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Women’s Selection Committee announced the squads on November 9. India are scheduled to play a one-off Test, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is) against South Africa between December 9 and 30.
The tour will be particularly significant for Mandhana, who will make her Test captaincy debut in Gqeberha. Having previously led India in the shorter formats, she will now take charge of the red-ball side as well, marking an important development in India’s leadership structure. Deepti Sharma has been appointed vice-captain for the Test and ODI squads, while Shafali Verma will serve as vice-captain in the T20I format.
One of the biggest talking points from the selection announcement is the return of Jemimah Rodrigues to India’s international setup. The middle-order batter has been included in all three squads after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained while representing Southern Brave in The Hundred in August. The injury, diagnosed as a high-grade tear by the BCCI medical team, forced Rodrigues to miss India’s Women’s T20 Asia Cup, the Asian Games and the subsequent home series against Zimbabwe.
After three months of rehabilitation, Rodrigues confirmed her recovery through an Instagram update, stating, “Hamstring has been declared fit. After 3 months of rehab. Now I can’t wait to get going.” Her return adds experience and flexibility to India’s batting department, particularly in the middle order, where her ability to adapt to different match situations makes her an important option.
While the core group remains largely consistent across formats, the selectors have made a few notable changes to accommodate different combinations. Jintimani Kalita, who recently made her ODI debut against Zimbabwe, has earned a place in both the Test and ODI squads. Her maiden Test selection marks another opportunity for the young pacer to establish herself at the international level. Vaishnavi Sharma features in the ODI squad, replacing Sneh Rana, who has been selected for the Test side but does not feature in the 50-over lineup.
The T20I squad, meanwhile, includes 17 players and presents a slightly different combination. Youngsters Niki Prasad, G. Kamalini and Anushka Sharma have been included, while Prema Rawat strengthens the spin department. Amanjot Kaur also returns to the T20I setup, providing India with an additional pace-bowling all-rounder. Experienced pacer Renuka Singh Thakur has been selected exclusively for the shortest format, while Sayali Satghare features across all three squads. Shreyanka Patil and Minnu Mani are among the notable omissions from the T20I squad.
Full India Women’s Squad for South Africa Tour 2026
Test Squad
Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Deepti Sharma (VC), Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare
ODI Squad
Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Deepti Sharma (VC), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare
T20I Squad
Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Niki Prasad, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Anushka Sharma, Deepti Sharma, Sree Charani, Prema Rawat, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare
The seven-match assignment will provide India with an opportunity to test their combinations across formats and build momentum ahead of their upcoming international commitments. The ODI leg will also be part of the ICC Women’s Championship, adding further significance to the three-match series.
India’s selection for the South Africa tour reflects two important priorities: establishing a consistent leadership structure and building depth across formats. Mandhana’s appointment as captain across all three formats places greater responsibility on one of India’s most experienced batters. Her first Test assignment as captain will be an important milestone, particularly as she looks to establish her leadership in the longest format. Equally significant is the return of Rodrigues. Her absence highlighted the importance of middle-order stability, and her comeback gives India another experienced batting option.
The selectors have also demonstrated an interest in developing a wider talent pool, with opportunities for emerging players such as Jintimani Kalita, Niki Prasad and G. Kamalini. However, South Africa will offer a demanding examination. Conditions are expected to test India’s adaptability, particularly against pace and bounce. The challenge will be to translate their combinations and individual strengths into consistent performances away from home.
For Mandhana, this tour is more than another international assignment. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in her captaincy journey, with the responsibility of guiding India through three distinct formats and delivering results in challenging overseas conditions.
