Asian Games 2026: India Women's Cricket Squad Announced; Harmanpreet Captain, Mandhana Vice-Captain The Indian women's cricket team for the 2026 Asian Games has been officially announced, with Harmanpreet Kaur serving as captain and Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain. The squad includes several experienced players, while two key changes were made compared to the T20 World Cup 2026 team. Wicketkeeper Yasmin Bharti has been replaced by J. Kamalini, and all-rounder Premi Raut has been dropped. The selection reflects a balance between retaining seasoned performers and giving opportunities to younger talent. Yasmin Bharti, who struggled with form during the World Cup, was omitted from the squad. Her performance in the tournament was limited to 41 runs across four matches, with an average of 13.66 and a strike rate of 117.14. In her place, 17-year-old J. Kamalini, who recently played for Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), has been included. The decision to drop Bharti highlights the selectors’ focus on improving consistency and performance in the upcoming Asian Games. Shreyanka Patil, a spin all-rounder, has been retained after receiving fitness clearance. She missed the T20 World Cup due to a knee injury sustained against Netherlands, but her return to the squad underscores her importance to the team’s strategy. Premi Raut, who was part of the World Cup squad, was not selected for the Asian Games, despite her experience. The pace attack will be spearheaded by Renuka Singh and Arundhati Reddy, while spin bowling will be led by Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil. The 2026 Asian Games will feature T20 matches, and the Indian team is expected to compete in the quarterfinals or knockout stages based on its ICC rankings.#smriti_mandhana #harmanpreet_kaur #asian_games_2026 #shreyanka_patil #j_kamalini
Mithali Raj Calls for Role Clarity in India's Bowling Department Ahead of T20 World Cup Former women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj has highlighted the need for clarity in India’s bowling department as the team prepares for critical matches in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Speaking on JioStar Media Day, Raj emphasized that the lack of defined roles among bowlers is a significant concern, particularly as the team faces tough opponents like South Africa and Australia in the tournament. India’s campaign in the World Cup has started with mixed results, with the team securing victories against Pakistan and the Netherlands in their opening Pool A games. However, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side faces a challenging schedule, including matches against South Africa on June 20 and Australia on June 28. Between these fixtures, India will also play Bangladesh on June 25. Despite the early successes, Raj pointed out that the team’s bowling attack is currently its weakest link, citing the absence of right-arm off-spinner Shreyanka Patil due to an ankle injury and a weakened seam attack. “Role clarity is missing in our bowling department,” Raj said. “The first six overs of our bowling should be where we get breakthroughs. In the last few series, we haven’t seen that. India is missing Kashvi Gautam and Amanjot Kaur, but with the resources we have, we need to make inroads in the initial overs. Early breakthroughs put pressure on the batting team.” She stressed the importance of having clear strike bowlers and a structured approach to tighten run flow, which she believes is currently lacking. Raj also addressed the team’s batting strength, noting that Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh have been instrumental in maintaining consistency.#smriti_mandhana #harmanpreet_kaur #richa_ghosh #mithali_raj #shreyanka_patil
