The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the women’s Indian cricket team for the Commonwealth Games-2022. As per the expectation Harmanpreet Kaur will lead Team India in these games held from 28 July to 8 August. While Smriti Manghana will be Vice-captain of the team. The women in blue will start its campaign on July 29 in this multi-sport event going to be held in Birmingham. India’s first match will be against World Champion Kangaroos. Indian team has got their position in Pool A. The other teams in their group are Australia, Pakistan, and Barbados.
The BCCI has announced a 15-member squad for the games. Opener Shefali Verma with Smriti Mandhana, S. Meghna, and Yastika Bhatia for the top order. While there are all-rounders like Sneh Rana, Puja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, and Kaptan Kaur in the middle order and lower-middle order. Harleen Deol, Tania Bhatia, and Jemima Rodrigues also got their position in the squad.
Returns of cricket after 24 years in CWG
Cricket is returning after 24 years in Common Wealth Games. While women’s cricket is being played for the first time there. Earlier in 1998, cricket was included in CWG. Then 16 men’s cricket teams took part. Eventually, Eight teams are participating in the current edition of CWG.
The format of the tournament will be T20
The matches of cricket will be played in the T20 format. The most important thing is these matches will get the status of International. Earlier in 1998, the ODI format was played.
Participating teams and their pool
Pool A: Australia, India, Pakistan, Barbados.
Pool B: England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka.
Indian Squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Jemima Rodrigues, Shefali Verma, S Meghna, Tania Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, Harleen Deol and Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav.