BCCI Unveils India Squad for South Africa T20Is, World Cup Winner Omitted

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on March 24 unveiled the Indian women’s squad for the upcoming five match T20I series against South Africa, introducing several changes as the team gears up for the T20 World Cup 2026.

The selectors have opted to leave out Amanjot Kaur, Gunalan Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma and Sneh Rana following the recent tour of Australia. In a notable inclusion, young all rounder Kashvee Gautam has earned her maiden T20I call-up, while wicketkeeper batter Uma Chetry returns to the setup.

Amanjot struggled for form in the previous series, managing low scores and failing to pick up wickets, prompting the management to look at alternatives. Kashvee, who impressed during her outings in Tests and ODIs, is expected to fill a similar role in the T20 format.

Teenager Kamalini, who debuted last year, did not feature in the Australia series and has now been left out, while Sneh Rana and Vaishnavi Sharma also miss out after not getting opportunities on the tour. Meanwhile, Uma Chetry makes a comeback, aiming to strengthen the wicketkeeping department.

The series is scheduled to run from April 17 to April 27 and will serve as an important preparatory assignment ahead of the global tournament set to begin in June in England.

Historically, India have maintained an edge over South Africa in T20Is, winning 10 of their 19 encounters. The last bilateral series between the two sides in South Africa saw India emerge victorious.

Among current players, Smriti Mandhana has been the most prolific batter in these contests, while Deepti Sharma has been a consistent performer with the ball and is closing in on a major milestone in this rivalry.