World Cup-winning star returns as BCCI announces India’s squad for one-off Test against Australia

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Women have announced India's Women's squad for the one-off Test against Australia. The Indian Cricket Board added World Cup-winning batter Pratika Rawal, along with left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma and speedster Kranti Gaud, who have earned their first call-ups to the longest format of the game for the one-off Test, which is scheduled to take place from March 6 to 9.

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the side, and Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy against Australia.  The Test match will take place after the white-ball leg of the tour, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs, starting on February 15.

Pratika's performance in ODIs

Pratika’s selection came as no surprise following her excellent performances in ODIs. She has scored 1,110 runs in 24 matches at an average of 50.45, including two centuries and seven half-centuries. Her inclusion also confirms that she has fully recovered from the ankle injury that kept her out of last year’s Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal and final. However, the 25-year-old is not part of India’s white-ball squads for the Australia tour.

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Vaishnavi Sharma's career

Vaishnavi Sharma, who impressed during India’s Under-19 World Cup win in early 2025, made her senior international debut in December during the home T20I series against Sri Lanka. The 20-year-old spinner has so far played five T20Is.

Fast bowler Kranti Gaud also made her India debut last year and has since featured in 15 ODIs and four T20Is. She stood out in the 50-over format, picking up 23 wickets.

Mumbai pacer Satghare, aged 25, has played three ODIs against Ireland in January 2025. Her selection means experienced all-rounder Arundhati Reddy misses out on the squad.

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Why did G Kamalini missed out?

Meanwhile, young wicketkeeper G Kamalini has been ruled out of the Australia tour due to injury. The selectors have named Uma Chetry as her replacement in India’s T20I and ODI squads.

India's tour of Australia

India Test squad

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Thakur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare.