Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s Cricket Team is ready to take on the challenge of the Commonwealth Game
The BCCI has announced the squad of the women’s team for the Commonwealth Games 2022 which will be taking place from 28th July to 4th August in Birmingham, UK.
This will be the first time that Women’s T20I international cricket matches are included in this historic multi-sports event. The teams are divided into two pools. Team India is in pool A along with Australia, Barbados, and arch-rival Pakistan. On the other side Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, and, South Africa will compete in Pool B.
Pool A teams:
India. Pakistan, Barbados, Australia.
Pool B teams:
Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, and, South Africa.
The top two teams from each pool will advance into the Semi-final and the winners of the Semis will face- off in the Grand finale.
Each team is scheduled to play three matches each in the league stage. India will start their campaign by facing off mighty Australia on 29th July. But the main attraction of the group stages Matches will be on 31st July when India will take on their Arch-rival Pakistan.
The schedule of Indian the team is as follows:
| Date | Team | Opponent |
| 29/7/2022 | India | Australia |
| 31/7/2022 | India | Pakistan |
| 3/08/2022 | India | Barbados |
Team News:
Wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia got named in the squad despite an unimpressive strike rate of below 100 whereas Bengal’s dashing wicket wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh fails to be selected into the squad. The most notable event is the comeback of an all-rounder, Sneh Rana in the Indian squad who didn’t play in the Sri-Lanka series due to injury and was at NCA for rehabilitation.
In the pacer category, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, and Pooja Vastrakar have been selected.
Veteran leg spinner Poonam Yadav is at the stand-by along with Simran Dil Bahadur. Harmanpreet Kaur is appointed as the captain whereas left-handed dashing batter Smriti Mandhana will be in charge of the vice captain.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s led side is expected to do well in this prestigious tournament as they have shown their great form in Sri-LankSri Lankatewashed them in the ODI series es and won the T20I series by a 2-1 margin.
Team India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, S. Meghana, Taniyaa Sapna Bhatia (Wk), Yastika Bhatia (Wk), Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana
