The 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup will take place in March in New Zealand and the Indian cricket team will be led by Mithali Raj in what could be her final appearance.
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The BCCI announced the India women’s cricket team squad for the series against New Zealand as well as the Women’s World Cup. Mithali Raj will lead the team for the World Cup in what could potentially be her last tournament. The squad also includes veteran Jhulan Goswami. There are no major surprises in the India women’s cricket team, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma being the key. There is also Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav who will form the core of the bowling along with Jhulan.
India has made it to the finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup twice in 2005 and 2017. They lost the 2005 tournament to Australia. But, in 2017, they suffered the ultimate heartbreak as they lost the final at Lord’s by nine runs. In that edition, Harmanpreet Kaur had created history by smashing 171 and knocking Australia out of the tournament.
Mithali Raj is now in her 23rd year as an international cricketer. She is the leading run-getter in ODIs in the world. But, what she does not have is an ICC World Cup win. The tournament is being held in New Zealand after a gap of 22 years and India will be determined to script history.
Read | Mithali Raj redefines greatness in her 22nd year of international cricket
India will play five ODIs and a single T20I against New Zealand beginning on February 9. The focus will then shift to the World Cup. India will open their campaign on March 6 against Pakistan at the Bay Oval in Tauranga. However, their key games will be against Australia and England on March 16 and 19.
India women’s T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, S. Meghna, Simran Dil Bahadur.
India women’s ODI and World Cup squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav.
| Date | Match | Venue | Team |
| 09 February | Only T20I | McLean Park, Napier | New Zealand |
| 11 February | 1st ODI | McLean Park, Napier | New Zealand |
| 14 February | 2nd ODI | Saxton Oval, Nelson | New Zealand |
| 16 February | 3rd ODI | Saxton Oval, Nelson | New Zealand |
| 22 February | 4th ODI | John Davies Oval, Queenstown | New Zealand |
| 24 February | 5th ODI | John Davies Oval, Queenstown | New Zealand |
| Date | Venue | Opponent |
| 06 March | Bay Oval, Tauranga | Pakistan |
| 10 March | Seddon Park, Hamilton | New Zealand |
| 12 March | Seddon Park, Hamilton | West Indies |
| 16 March | Bay Oval, Tauranga | Australia |
| 19 March | Eden Park, Auckland | England |
| 22 March | Seddon Park, Hamilton | Bangladesh |
| 27 March | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | South Africa |
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