New Delhi: Asha Sobhana was a surprise inclusion in the Indian 15-member squad for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, announced by the BCCI on Tuesday. The 33-year-old who grabbed the limelight for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, made her India debut earlier this year and played just five international games for the country.
The Women’s T20 World Cup was scheduled to take place in Bangladesh but was shifted to UAE because of safety concerns owing to the political unrest in the country. The tournament starts on October 3 and will commence on October 20. Dubai and Sharjah are the two venues for the mega tournament.
Expectedly, Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the side while Smriti Mandhana has been chosen as her deputy. Although the duo of Yastika Bhatia and Shreyanka Patil have been named in the side, they are subject to fitness clearance. Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer and Saima Thakor have been named as travelling reserves.
India, placed in Group A along with Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, will be aiming for their maiden T20 World Cup trophy.
India’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk)*, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil*, Sajana Sajeevan.
*Subject to fitness clearance
Travelling Reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor
