BCCI names 15-member Indian squad for ICC Women's T20 World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Tuesday, announced a 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 3 to October 20.

While Harmanpreet Kaur has been named captain of the side, Smriti Mandhana has been named her deputy for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in Dubai and Sharjah.

Swashbuckling opening batter Shafali Verma and all-round Deepti Sharma have also been named in the squad.

Middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues, Dayalan Hemalatha and pace bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar have also found their names in the squad.

While Richa Ghosh has been named the first-choice wicket-keeper Yastika Bhatia has been chosen as her back-up.

In the bowling department, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana have been named in the squad as India's bowling mainstays.

Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil and Sajeevan Sajana have been named as stand-bys.

Last week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the UAE as the host for the upcoming women's T20 World Cup due to political tension in Bangladesh.

The Indian women's team are placed in Group A along with defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

India will play two warm-up matches before the start of the tournament against West Indies and South Africa on September 29 and October 1 respectively.

Indian squad for ICC Women's T20 World Cup:

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Dayalan Hemalatha, Pooja Vastrakar, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Asha Sobhana

Stand-bys: Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil Sajeevan Sajana