Mithali to lead India for tour of South Africa

Mithali Raj has been named captain of a 16-strong squad for a three-match One-Day International series in South Africa in February.

Mithali Raj will preside over a team similar to the one that played the World Cup.

Mithali Raj leads a 16-strong Indian squad that has been named to tour South Africa for a three-match One-Day International series early next month.

Taniya Bhatia, Pooja Vastrakar and Jemimah Rodriguez are the new inductees in what is otherwise a similar squad to the one that reached the final of the Women’s World Cup in England last year. Mansi Joshi and Nuzhat Parween, members of the World Cup squad, do not find a spot this time.

India also plays a Twenty20 International series, the squad for which is yet to be announced.

India: Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Ekta Bisht, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Yadav, Punam Raut, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jhulan Goswami, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Mona Meshram, Pooja Vastrakar, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper).

• Warm-up match: 02 February, Bloemfontein
• 1st ODI: 05 February, Kimberley
• 2nd ODI: 07 February, Kimberley
• 3rd ODI: 10 February, Potchefstroom