India announce squad for Women’s Test against Australia:Pratika Rawal, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud earned maiden call-ups

The Indian women’s team for the one-off Test against Australia has been announced. In the team released on Saturday, World Cup-winning star batter Pratika Rawal, left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, and fast bowler Kranti Gaur have been given an opportunity. Amanjot Kaur and Sayali Satghare also earned their maiden Test call-ups. These five have been included in the Test team for the first time. The match will be played in Perth from March 6 to 9. The team will be captained by Harmanpreet Kaur. This Test match will be played after the white-ball matches of the Australia tour. India and Australia will first play 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs, which will begin on February 15. Harmanpreet to captain the Indian team Pratika gets a chance based on ODI performance
Pratika Rawal’s selection in the Test team was almost certain, given her recent ODI performance. She has scored 1110 runs in 24 ODI matches at an average of 50.45. During this period, she has registered 2 centuries and 7 half-centuries. With Pratika’s selection, it has also become clear that she has fully recovered from her ankle injury. Due to the injury, she could not play in the semi-finals and finals of last year’s Women’s ODI World Cup. However, 25-year-old Pratika has not been included in the squad for Australia’s white-ball tour. Vaishnavi and Kranti also get first Test call-up
20-year-old Vaishnavi Sharma played a crucial role in India’s Under-19 World Cup win in early 2025. She made her senior team debut in the home T20I series against Sri Lanka in December. Vaishnavi has played 5 T20Is so far. Fast bowler Kranti Gaur made her debut for India last year. She has played 15 ODIs and 4 T20Is so far. She has been quite effective in the ODI format, taking 23 wickets. Mumbai’s Sathgare also gets a chance
Mumbai fast bowler Sayali Sathgare has also been included in the team. 25-year-old Sayali played 3 ODIs against Ireland in January 2025. Due to her selection, experienced Arundhati Reddy did not get a chance in the team. Young wicketkeeper G Kamalini has been ruled out of the Australia tour due to injury. Selectors have included Uma Chetry in India’s T20I and ODI squads in her place. Meanwhile, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Meghna Singh and Priya Punia, who were all part of the Test squad against South Africa, are the players to miss out. India Women’s Test Team Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Uma Chetry (Wicketkeeper), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Thakur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Sathgare.