IND W vs NZ W: Smriti Mandhana Named New Captain of India Women’s Cricket Team, Replacing Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur will not be available to play for the India Women’s cricket team in the first ODI match against New Zealand. It has been announced by the BCCI that Smriti Mandhana will be taking over the captaincy in the first game of the series, looking forward to taking an early lead.

The series between India Women and New Zealand Women only comprises three ODI games, as the first match will be taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Only ODI matches will be played during the series, as BCCI informed that captain Harmanpreet Kaur has suffered from a niggle due to which she will miss the first test.

The tweet by BCCI said,

Ms Harmanpreet Kaur has a niggle and has been rested for the 1st ODI. Smriti Mandhana will be leading the side in her absence.

Yastika Bhatia and Dayalan Hemalatha have also been added to the team in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur. They are likely to strengthen the team’s top-order batting line-up, as Smriti Mandhana revealed the playing eleven of the team during the toss.

India Women’s Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana(c), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia(w), Dayalan Hemalatha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Saima Thakor, Renuka Thakur Singh