Smriti Mandhana is set to begin a new chapter in Indian women’s cricket after being named India’s Test captain for the upcoming all-format tour of South Africa in December. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squads for the tour, with Mandhana taking charge of the Test side for the first time since succeeding Harmanpreet Kaur.
The tour will feature one Test, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), giving India an opportunity to test their strength across all three formats. The series will run from December 9 to December 30.
Jemimah Rodrigues is among the major additions to the squads, returning to the Indian team after missing the Asia Cup, Asian Games and Zimbabwe series because of injury. Meanwhile, Jintimani Kalita has earned her maiden call-up to India’s Test squad.
Smriti Mandhana Begins Test Captaincy Journey
Mandhana’s appointment as Test captain marks an important development in her leadership journey with the Indian women’s team. Having taken over the captaincy responsibilities from Harmanpreet Kaur, she will now lead India in the longest format for the first time during the South Africa tour.
Her captaincy tenure has already started positively. Mandhana led India to victories in the T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe at home, and she will now look to maintain that momentum against South Africa.
The upcoming tour will also provide valuable preparation ahead of the women’s Champions Trophy scheduled for January. Leading India across formats will give Mandhana an opportunity to build further confidence and consistency within the squad.
Jemimah Rodrigues Returns After Injury
Jemimah Rodrigues’ return is another significant development in India’s squad announcement. The batter had missed several international assignments, including the Asia Cup, Asian Games and the series against Zimbabwe, after suffering an injury.
Her inclusion across the three formats strengthens India’s batting options ahead of a challenging overseas tour. Rodrigues will be expected to play an important role as India prepare for the Test, ODI and T20I contests.
Deepti Sharma has been appointed vice-captain for the Test and ODI squads, while Shafali Verma will serve as vice-captain in the T20I format. The leadership structure gives India different experienced options across the three formats.
Jintimani Kalita Receives Maiden Test Call-Up
Jintimani Kalita has earned her first call-up to India’s Test squad for the South Africa tour. Her selection is one of the notable highlights of the announcement and provides her with an opportunity to make her mark in the longest format.
Kalita has also been included in India’s ODI squad, making the tour an important opportunity for her at the international level.
India Women’s Test Squad for South Africa Tour
Smriti Mandhana will captain the 15-member Test squad, with Deepti Sharma named as vice-captain. The squad also includes experienced players such as Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues.
- Smriti Mandhana (Captain)
- Shafali Verma
- Pratika Rawal
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Harleen Deol
- Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
- Yastika Bhatia (Wicketkeeper)
- Deepti Sharma (Vice-captain)
- Sree Charani
- Sneh Rana
- Kranti Gaud
- Nandni Sharma
- Jintimani Kalita
- Sayali Satghare
India Women’s ODI Squad for South Africa Tour
Mandhana will also lead the ODI team, with Deepti Sharma continuing as vice-captain. The 15-member squad includes Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur and two wicketkeeping options in Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia.
- Smriti Mandhana (Captain)
- Shafali Verma
- Pratika Rawal
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Harleen Deol
- Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
- Yastika Bhatia (Wicketkeeper)
- Deepti Sharma (Vice-captain)
- Sree Charani
- Vaishnavi Sharma
- Kranti Gaud
- Nandni Sharma
- Jintimani Kalita
- Sayali Satghare
India Women’s T20I Squad for South Africa Tour
Shafali Verma will serve as vice-captain of the T20I side, with Mandhana leading the team. The 17-member squad features a mix of experienced international players and younger options, including Niki Prasad, G. Kamalini and Anushka Sharma.
- Smriti Mandhana (Captain)
- Shafali Verma (Vice-captain)
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Niki Prasad
- Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
- G. Kamalini (Wicketkeeper)
- Anushka Sharma
- Deepti Sharma
- Sree Charani
- Prema Rawat
- Amanjot Kaur
- Kranti Gaud
- Nandni Sharma
- Renuka Singh Thakur
- Arundhati Reddy
- Sayali Satghare
India Women’s Tour of South Africa 2026: Full Schedule
India’s tour will begin with a one-off Test in Gqeberha on December 9. The teams will then move into the limited-overs leg, featuring three ODIs followed by three T20Is across different South African venues.
- December 9, Wednesday: Test – Gqeberha
- December 16, Wednesday: 1st ODI – Paarl
- December 19, Saturday: 2nd ODI – Cape Town
- December 22, Tuesday: 3rd ODI – Bloemfontein
- December 26, Saturday: 1st T20I – Benoni
- December 29, Tuesday: 2nd T20I – Potchefstroom
- December 30, Wednesday: 3rd T20I – Potchefstroom
India Look to Build Momentum Ahead of Champions Trophy
The South Africa tour will be an important test for India’s women’s team as they prepare for a busy international schedule. With Mandhana taking charge in Tests, Rodrigues returning from injury and Kalita receiving her maiden Test opportunity, the squad announcement brings several important developments.
India will aim to carry forward the confidence gained from their series victories against Zimbabwe and deliver strong performances in South Africa. The three-format assignment will also give the team an opportunity to assess its combinations and build momentum ahead of the women’s Champions Trophy in January.
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