The Indian women’s cricket team is gearing up for a crucial series of three One Day Internationals against Ireland, starting on January 10 in Rajkot. In a significant shift, regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur and fast bowler Renuka Singh have been rested for this series. Smriti Mandhana, a prominent figure in the team, will lead the squad in Harmanpreet’s absence, while the talented Deepti Sharma assumes the role of vice-captain.
As part of this squad adjustment, two new players, Raghvi Bist and Sayali Satghare, have been called up. Bist comes off a promising debut in the T20I series against the West Indies, featuring in two matches where she scored 5 and 31 runs respectively. Meanwhile, Satghare received her first call-up for the ODIs against New Zealand in October 2024 but did not make her debut then. These selections indicate a management strategy aiming to inject new talent into the squad while allowing seasoned players like Harmanpreet and Renuka some much-needed rest.
For this series, players like Arundhati Reddy, Shafali Verma, and Radha Yadav remain on the sidelines as the team looks to experiment with its lineup. Shafali Verma's omission is especially noteworthy. Despite her notable performance in the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy, where she was the top run-scorer with 527 runs at an impressive average of 75.29, including a remarkable innings of 197 against Bengal, she was not included. Additionally, on January 5, Shafali showcased her form by scoring 91 runs off 71 balls in a match-winning effort for Team A during the One Day Challenger Trophy.
Pratika Rawal and Tanuja Kanwar, both of whom debuted in the West Indies ODIs held in Vadodara, have retained their places in the squad. This continuity emphasizes the selectors' trust in them to perform at the international level. Smriti Mandhana previously filled in as captain when Harmanpreet was absent for the last two T20Is against the West Indies, gaining experience that will be crucial in leading the team during this upcoming series.
The matches against Ireland are not only significant for India but also represent a landmark moment for the Irish team, marking their first-ever bilateral tour of India. Since their prior encounter in 2006, these two teams have faced each other exclusively in major tournaments, with India maintaining a dominant record of winning all 12 ODIs contested thus far. Their last meeting took place during the T20 World Cup in 2023, where India emerged victorious by a narrow five-run margin.
This series against Ireland is part of the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship, which is crucial for both teams as they look to consolidate their respective positions within the standings. India will be aiming to extend its undefeated record against the Irish and continue building momentum leading up to future competitions.
The squad for the ODIs against Ireland is as follows:
Smriti Mandhana (captain)
Deepti Sharma (vice-captain)
Pratika Rawal
Harleen Deol
Jemimah Rodrigues
Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper)
Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper)
Tejal Hasabnis
Raghvi Bist
Minnu Mani
Priya Mishra
Tanuja Kanwar
Titas Sadhu
Saima Thakor
Sayali Satghare
As the Indian women’s team prepares for this significant series, the focus will be on showcasing their cricketing prowess while experimenting with new talents. Mandhana’s leadership will be critical in ensuring the squad remains cohesive and competitive against an Ireland team eager to make its mark. The upcoming matches promise to be exhilarating as both teams vie for supremacy on the cricketing field.