India have mixed youth with experience for the five-match women’s T20I series against Sri Lanka later this month, handing first caps to 17-year-old keeper-batter G Kamalini and 19-year-old left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, while leaving out senior names Radha Yadav, Yastika Bhatia and Sayali Satghare.
Selector Neetu David put it simply in the BCCI release: “Consistent domestic form has been rewarded.” That consistency has been hard to ignore. Kamalini, a clean-striking left-hander, finished sixth on the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy run chart – 297 in seven outings – and squeezed in a few eye-catching cameos for Mumbai Indians in the WPL. Her unbeaten 11 off 8, including the winning boundary with one ball left, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru still gets replayed in MI’s highlights package. No surprise, then, that the franchise retained her for INR 50 lakh going into next year’s auction.
Vaishnavi’s case was even clearer. Twenty-one wickets in 11 games for Madhya Pradesh in the same domestic competition, another dozen for Central Zone in the inter-zonals, and a tournament-best 17 wickets at the U-19 World Cup back in January. Bowling coach Troy Cooley noted after that World Cup, “She hits the awkward length over and over – a nightmare for any right-hander.” He will be hoping she does the same to Sri Lanka’s top order.
OUT, FOR NOW
Radha Yadav – fresh from playing a supporting hand in India’s ODI World Cup win – is the headline omission. She picked up four wickets in three matches at that tournament and six in five on the England T20I tour that followed, but the selectors have opted for variety in the spin department. Yastika Bhatia misses out while still working back from a knee problem; she has not played competitive cricket since August. Sayali Satghare, tidy but wicket-less against England, also drops out.
CAPTAINCY STAYS STEADY
Harmanpreet Kaur continues as captain, with Smriti Mandhana her deputy. Asked about the two teenagers, Harmanpreet said during a quick media interaction, “They have earned this. The dressing-room will help them settle, and then it’s up to them.” Straightforward enough.
SERIES DETAILS
The first two matches are set for Visakhapatnam on 21 and 23 December. The caravan then moves south to Thiruvananthapuram for games on 26, 28 and 30 December. All five start at 7 pm IST, as things stand.
SQUAD AT A GLANCE
Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), N Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.
A QUICK READ ON BALANCE
It is, on paper, a balanced group: three left-arm spinners, the usual pace options led by Renuka Singh Thakur, and batting from one to at least eight. The question is whether the youngsters play straight away or sit behind more experienced names. Former India coach W V Raman told Star Sports, “If you pick them, play them. Simple.” That approach worked with Shafali Verma a few years ago; the management may well repeat it.
Either way, the series feels like a logical point to test bench strength. Sri Lanka have improved, but India at home remain favourites. Just don’t be surprised if Kamalini or Vaishnavi, maybe both, provide the real talking points once the cricket starts.
