India’s Women’s Test, ODI, T20I squads for South Africa tour officially announced, Jemimah Rodrigues returns

India’s Women’s Test, ODI, T20I squads for South Africa tour officially announced, Jemimah Rodrigues returns

India Women Announce Squads for All-Format South Africa Tour in December 2026

India have named their squads for a demanding all-format tour of South Africa in December 2026, with one Test, three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals on the schedule. The series will test India’s depth across formats and offer a valuable opportunity to assess combinations in conditions that can challenge visiting batters and bowlers alike.

The headline selection news is Smriti Mandhana’s appointment as India’s full-time Test captain. Deepti Sharma will serve as her deputy in the longest format, while Jemimah Rodrigues returns to the ODI and T20I squads after recovering from a hamstring injury. A strong core featuring Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and Deepti has been retained across the tour.

South Africa Tour Schedule: Test, ODI and T20I Fixtures

The tour begins with a one-off Test in Gqeberha on December 9. India and South Africa will then switch to the 50-over format, with the first ODI set for Paarl on December 16. Cape Town hosts the second match on December 19, before the teams conclude the ODI series in Bloemfontein on December 22.

The three-match T20I leg starts in Benoni on December 26. The sides will meet again in Potchefstroom on December 29, with the same venue hosting the final T20I on December 30. The compact schedule means India will need to adapt quickly as the demands shift from the patience required in Test cricket to the faster pace of the limited-overs games.

Mandhana Begins Full-Time Test Captaincy

Mandhana’s elevation to full-time Test captain adds a significant leadership dimension to the tour. One of India’s most accomplished opening batters, she will be responsible for setting the tone in a format where tactical decisions, patience and the management of bowling resources can shape a match over several days.

Her appointment also provides continuity at the top of the order. Mandhana’s experience against high-quality international attacks will be important in South Africa, where movement off the pitch and through the air can make the early stages of an innings particularly demanding. Deepti’s role as vice-captain offers an experienced partner, bringing all-round ability and knowledge of the game’s changing rhythms.

The Test squad includes a blend of established internationals and players looking to strengthen their claims. Harmanpreet, Shafali, Jemimah and Deepti provide experience, while the group also features several bowling options, including Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare.

Jemimah Rodrigues Returns After Injury

Jemimah’s return is another major talking point. The batter missed recent international assignments while recovering from a hamstring injury, and her selection across the white-ball squads gives India another versatile option in the middle order. Her last appearance for India came in the one-off Test against England at Lord’s in July.

Her comeback could be especially useful in South Africa, where the ability to rotate the strike and respond to changing match situations is vital. Jemimah’s presence gives the selectors flexibility in shaping the batting order, whether India need to rebuild after early wickets or accelerate during the middle overs.

The squads also include a number of familiar names across formats. Shafali, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet, Jemimah, Harleen Deol, Richa, Yastika Bhatia and Deepti are selected for both the Test and ODI groups. Richa and Yastika provide wicketkeeping options in those squads, while the T20I team includes Richa and G. Kamalini behind the stumps.

Format-Specific Choices and Squad Depth

India’s T20I selection reflects the distinct demands of the shortest format. Shafali has been named vice-captain, while Niki Prasad and Anushka Sharma are included among the batting options. The squad also features all-rounder Amanjot Kaur and leg-spinner Prema Rawat, alongside a pace group that includes Renuka Singh Thakur and Arundhati Reddy.

Several players appear across all three squads, including Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita and Sayali Satghare. Their inclusion gives India options to manage workloads and tailor combinations to different surfaces. Vaishnavi Sharma is named in the ODI squad, while the T20I group includes Renuka and Arundhati, highlighting the selectors’ format-by-format approach.

Having multiple wicketkeepers and a range of bowling styles may prove important over a tour that moves between venues and formats in a short period. South African conditions can vary, and the ability to adjust team balance—whether by adding pace, spin or batting depth—could influence India’s chances in individual matches.

India’s South Africa Tour Prediction and Key Questions

Any prediction for the series will depend on how quickly India adapt to local conditions and how effectively the new Test leadership settles into place. The one-off Test will be an early measure of Mandhana’s captaincy, while the ODI and T20I matches should reveal whether India can carry momentum across formats.

India’s experienced core gives the visitors a solid foundation, but the tour will also be an opportunity for newer selections to make an impression. The main questions include how the top order handles South Africa’s pace attack, which bowlers emerge as reliable options across formats, and how India balance their line-ups as the schedule moves from the Test to the limited-overs series.

With a mix of established performers, returning talent and format-specific selections, India’s squad announcement sets up an intriguing December contest. The tour offers more than a sequence of fixtures: it is a chance for India to build confidence overseas, assess their depth and develop combinations for future international challenges.

India Women’s Squads for South Africa Tour

Test Squad

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.

ODI Squad

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.

T20I Squad

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.

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