Yastika Bhatia has been handed a leadership opportunity after missing out on India’s squad for the Women’s Asia Cup, with the wicketkeeper-batter named captain of the India A side for the upcoming multi-format series against Australia A.
The Women’s Selection Committee announced three separate India A squads on Thursday for three T20s, three One-Day matches and a four-day Multi-Day fixture. Bhatia will lead the side in the One-Day and Multi-Day games, while Anushka Sharma has been appointed captain for the T20s.
Bhatia’s appointment gives her an opportunity to make a strong case for a return to the senior side. The 25-year-old has represented India across formats and recently featured in the historic Lord’s Test against England, scoring a century in the match.
YASTIKA GETS LEADERSHIP CHANCE AGAINST STRONG AUSTRALIA A
Bhatia will have several familiar faces around her in the One-Day squad, including Anushka Sharma, Vrinda Dinesh, Priya Punia, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Uma Chetry, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare and Vaishnavi Sharma.
The Australia A squad, meanwhile, includes experienced players such as Darcie Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck, who is set to return to representative cricket after a long injury lay-off. The Australians will also have three different captains across the formats, with Nicole Faltum leading the T20 side, Tahlia Wilson in charge of the 50-over team and Rachel Trenaman captaining the four-day fixture.
The Australia A tour will begin with the T20 series in New Chandigarh, with matches scheduled for September 12, 15 and 17. The three One-Day games will then be played at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on September 20, 23 and 25. The tour will conclude with a four-day fixture in Dharamshala from September 29 to October 2.
India A squad for Australia T20s: Anushka Sharma (C), Sayali Satghare (VC), Vrinda Dinesh, Sujata Dey, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Shipra Giri (WK), Shweta Sehrawat, Uma Chetry (WK), Tanuja Kanwer, Minnu Mani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel, Simran Dil Bahadur
India A squad for One-Day matches: Yastika Bhatia (C) (WK), Anushka Sharma (VC), Vrinda Dinesh, Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Uma Chetry (WK), Minnu Mani, Amandeep Kaur, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel, Akshita Bhagat
India A squad for the multi-day match: Yastika Bhatia (C) (WK), Anushka Sharma (VC), Shubha Satheesh, Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Mamata Madiwala (WK), Sushree Dibyadarshini, Shuchi Upadhyay, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel, Akshita Bhagat
India A vs Australia A: Series Schedule
- September 12: 1st T20 – 6:00 PM IST, New Chandigarh
- September 15: 2nd T20 – 6:00 PM IST, New Chandigarh
- September 17: 3rd T20 – 6:00 PM IST, New Chandigarh
- September 20: 1st One-Day – 2:00 PM IST, PCA Stadium, Mohali
- September 23: 2nd One-Day – 9:00 AM IST, PCA Stadium, Mohali
- September 25: 3rd One-Day – 2:00 PM IST, PCA Stadium, Mohali
- September 29–October 2: Multi-Day fixture – 9:30 AM IST, Dharamshala
– Ends
