Pratika Rawal, sidelined since her star turn at last year’s ODI World Cup, has returned to the national fold and is one of five uncapped players picked for India’s one-off women’s Test against Australia at the WACA on 6 March.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will again work with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana in a 15-strong squad that leans towards youth without discarding its senior core. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, only 20, joins Rawal on the potential debut list alongside all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, wicketkeeper Uma Chetry and seamer Kranti Gaud.
Chief selector Neetu David said, “The domestic season threw up several consistent performers and we felt this was the right window to blood them.” Harmanpreet echoed that view: “We’ve tried to strike a balance; experience to steady the ship, fresh legs to push the game on.”
India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Thakur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare.
The group gathers in Bengaluru next month for a brief red-ball camp before flying west.
