On April 14, the South African Women’s National Selection Panel announced the Proteas Women squad for the upcoming five-match T20Is. The series will take place on Proteas’ home ground from 17 to 27 April. This will be their final home international series of the 2025-26 season.
The series will be held at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, starting with back-to-back matches on 17 and 19 April. Followed by that the third and fourth T20Is will be held on 22 and 25 April at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The tour will conclude with the fifth T20I scheduled on April 27 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
The 15-player squad will be headed by skipper Laura Wolvaardt before the team begins their preparation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England, scheduled in June. Ahead of the World Cup, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has also confirmed changes to the Proteas Women’s coaching staff.
The decision comes with the contract conclusion that includes batting coach Baakier Abrahams, fielding coach Bongani Ndaba, and Strength and Conditioning coach Zane Webster. The contracts will not be extended after the 2025/26 season as part of the plans of the national setup.
Both Tebogo Macheke and Eliz-Mari Marx have received their maiden international call-up. Meanwhile, Anneke Bosch retains her place after coming in as a replacement for Dane van Niekerk during the New Zealand tour. All-rounder Marizanne Kapp remains unavailable as she rehabs from illness.
Expressing her views about the squad, head coach Mandla Mashimbyi says the series is special and the team is excited.
She said, “It is a quick turnaround, for sure, but a T20I series against India at home will always be special. The group remains largely the same for this tour. While we have learnt a lot about ourselves as a team on the recent trip to New Zealand, we are also very excited to get back on the field and express our eagerness to grow and improve with every game and training session.”
The coach also stressed the importance of the series for the World Cup preparations and how they are overcoming the challenges at every step..
“As a team, we are always looking to evolve, and the introduction of new voices brings fresh perspective and renewed energy to the group. We are grateful to Baakier, Bongani and Zane for the strong foundation they have helped build, and this next phase gives us an opportunity to challenge ourselves further as we continue our preparations towards the World Cup,” Mashimbyi added.
Proteas Women’s Squad for India T20I Series
Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Tebogo Macheke (uncapped), Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune and Chloe Tryon.
