The Asian Games Indian Women’s Cricket Team has been officially announced, with experienced batter Harmanpreet Kaur set to captain the side and star opener Smriti Mandhana appointed as vice-captain for the tournament in Japan next month.
The squad, selected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India Senior Selection Committee, features a blend of seasoned internationals and promising young talent. One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of teenage wicketkeeper G. Kamalini, who replaces Yastika Bhatia in the squad after an impressive rise in domestic cricket.
Harmanpreet to Continue as Captain
The selectors have retained faith in Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership as India prepares for another major multi-sport event. Smriti Mandhana will serve as her deputy, providing valuable experience at the top of the batting order.
The squad also includes several established names such as Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, giving India a strong mix of experience and youthful energy.
G. Kamalini Earns Maiden Opportunity
A significant selection decision came in the wicketkeeping department, where Yastika Bhatia missed out after a difficult run with the bat. The selectors instead handed an opportunity to 17-year-old G. Kamalini, who has impressed with her performances in domestic cricket and while representing the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League>.
Yastika struggled to make an impact during her recent international appearances, managing only 41 runs across three innings in the tournament at an average of 13.66. Her inability to convert starts into meaningful scores appears to have influenced the selection committee’s decision.
Kamalini’s inclusion reflects India’s continued focus on developing young players capable of making an immediate impact on the international stage.
Shreyanka Patil Returns After Injury
There is positive news for the Indian camp with all-rounder Shreyanka Patil returning to the squad after receiving fitness clearance.
Shreyanka had been ruled out of a major ICC tournament after suffering an ankle injury during India’s match against the Netherlands. Following rehabilitation and recovery, she is now back in contention and is expected to strengthen India’s spin-bowling department.
Meanwhile, Prema Rawat, who had previously been included as a replacement, does not feature in the Asian Games squad.
India’s pace attack will be spearheaded by Renuka Singh and Arundhati Reddy, while the spin unit will rely on the experience of Radha Yadav alongside Shreyanka Patil.
India Among Tournament Favourites
The women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games will be played in the T20 format. As one of the highest-ranked teams in Asia, India is expected to receive direct entry into the later stages of the competition, depending on the tournament format and final schedule.
India will once again be among the favourites to challenge for the gold medal, with strong competition expected from Asian rivals including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The team management is also expected to closely monitor player fitness and workload throughout the tournament to ensure key players remain available for the knockout stages.
Asian Games 2026 Indian Women’s Cricket Squad
The selected Asian Games Indian Women’s Cricket Team is as follows:
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain)
Shafali Verma
Jemimah Rodrigues
Deepti Sharma
Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
G. Kamalini (Wicketkeeper)
Bharti Fulmali
Shri Charani
Renuka Singh
Kranti Goud
Arundhati Reddy
Shreyanka Patil
Radha Yadav
Nandini Sharma
With an experienced core, exciting young talent, and renewed depth across batting, bowling, and all-round options, India will head into the Asian Games aiming to build on its recent success and compete strongly for another podium finish.
