India will tackle Australia in Friday’s day-night Test at the WACA without Renuka Singh after the seamer was advised to sit this match out “to better manage her workload”. “The BCCI Medical Team will be closely monitoring Renuka’s fitness progress,” the board added when confirming the change on Tuesday afternoon.
Kashvee Gautam, a right-arm medium-pacer with six ODI caps, replaces her. The 23-year-old has not yet played Test cricket, yet recent red-ball form – four wickets in three domestic games and a rapid, unbeaten 106 from 86 balls – persuaded selectors she is ready enough.
Three Tests, two wickets
Renuka’s Test record remains modest: three appearances, all at home, and two wickets – both on debut against England. India would have leaned on her experience in Perth but have instead opted for caution, a recurring theme as boards juggle packed schedules.
Uncapped pace pack
Kashvee joins Nandani Sharma, Sayali Satghare and Amanjot Kaur in a pace unit that has, remarkably, no Test caps between them. Satghare topped the domestic seam charts with six wickets, but none has bowled with a pink ball under Australian lights. Spin, by contrast, looks settled: Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana and youngster Vaishnavi Sharma cover both control and variation.
Recent history offers encouragement
India’s last Test down under, at Carrara in 2021, finished in a rain-affected draw. Two years later at the Wankhede, a disciplined performance produced a maiden Test victory over Australia – a result still fresh in the collective memory.
Former opener Anju Jain believes the bowling group can cope. “Conditions at the WACA reward discipline more than raw pace,” she said. “If Kashvee hits that back-of-a-length area consistently, she’ll be fine.”
Head coach Amol Muzumdar echoed the measured mood. “We’d love Renuka out there, of course, but player welfare matters. This is also a chance for others to step up.”
So India arrive in Perth a bowler light in experience but, the camp insists, not in confidence.
