Minnu Mani to lead India A squad in Australia

Kerala's Minnu Mani is set to lead the India A side yet again as the Women's Selection Committee on Sunday (July 14) announced the 18-member squad for the upcoming all-format tour of Australia. 

The all-format tour commences on August 7 as India A will face Australia A in three T20s in Brisbane, followed by as many One-Days and a one-off Test in Mackay. India A's last series was against England A in Mumbai back in December, which ended in a 2-1 win in the favour of the visitors.

Shewta Sehrawat has been named in the squad as the vice-captain. The batter was the part of India's 2023 U19 World Cup winning squad, and has enjoyed a productive domestic season with Delhi recently. She was the top run-getter in Senior Women's One Day Trophy 2024, scoring 462 runs in eight games. In the same tournament, she became the first Indian to score a double century in List A cricket. 

Captain Mani herself has been performing well domestically. She claimed 13 wickets in Senior Women Inter Zonal Multi-Day Trophy 2024. The all-rounder's 8/112 and 34 runs in the final earned her the Player of the Match award, despite South Zone's defeat to East Zone.

Priya Mishra has also received her maiden India A call-up. She was the highest wicket-taker in Senior Women’s One Day Trophy 2024, picking up 23 in eight matches for Delhi. Maharashtra's Tejal Hasabnis has also been picked up, with the batter having scored 362 runs in eight matches in the same tournament.

Left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque was in the main team's squad for recently-concluded all-format series against South Africa, but she did not feature in a single game. She has been included in the India A squad and may have a chance of playing this time. The other members from the senior squad against the Proteas who have been selected for India A are Shabnam Shakeel (subject to fitness), Uma Chetry, Shubha Satheesh and Sajana Sajeevan. 

Tanuja Kanwar had a standout campaign for Gujarat Giants in WPL this year. The left-arm spinner took 10 wickets in eight games for the Beth Mooney-led side, and she has now received her maiden India A call-up.

Schedule

1st T20 - August 7, Brisbane

2nd T20 - Ausust 9, Bribane

3rd T20 - August 11, Brisbane

1st One-Day, August 14, Mackay

2nd One-Day, August 16, Mackay

3rd One-Day, August 18, Mackay

One-off Test, August 22-25, Mackay

India A squad: Minnu Mani (c), Shweta Sehrawat (vc), Priya Punia, Shubha Satheesh, Tejal Hasabnis, Kiran Navgire, Sajana Sajeevan, Uma Chetry, Shipra Giri, Raghavi Bisht, Saika Ishaque, Mannat Kashyap, Tanuja Kanwar, Priya Mishra, Meghana Singh, Sayali Satghare, Shabnam Shakeel, S. Yashasri