New Delhi’s cricket fraternity buzzes with excitement as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveils the 15-member squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Australia. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the charge in this marquee clash set to unfold at Perth from March 6 to 9, 2026.
The selectors have brought back Pratikar Raval, a key player in India’s triumphant World Cup campaign before an injury sidelined her. In a notable change, wicketkeeper JI Kamalini has been ruled out of the Australia tour, paving the way for Uma Chettri to step in as the primary glovewoman, also earning spots in the T20I and ODI squads.
Historical battles between India and Australia in Tests paint a picture of dominance by the hosts, who lead with 4 wins from 11 encounters. India has one victory to its name, with the remaining 7 ending in draws. Their last meeting, from December 21-24, 2023, saw India emerge victorious, a memory the team aims to relive.
The tour isn’t just about the red-ball format. India faces a packed itinerary: three T20Is, three ODIs, and the solitary Test, sequenced in that order to test the squad’s versatility across formats.
Squad Breakdown:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chettri (WK), Pratikar Raval, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare.
In other news, the selection panel announced India ‘A’ for the ACC Rising Star Women’s Asia Cup in T20 format in Thailand. Led by Radha Yadav, the squad includes Humaira Kazi, Vrinda Dinesh, Anushka Sharma, Diya Yadav, Tejal Hasabnis, Nandani Kashyap (WK), Mamta M (WK), Sonia Mendhia, Minnu Mani, Tanuja Kanwar, Prema Rawat, Saima Thakur, Jintamani Kalita, Nandani Sharma. Diya Yadav and Mamta M are pending fitness clearance.
This announcement signals India’s intent to build depth and resilience ahead of a challenging Australian summer Down Under.