India handed a debut to 20-year-old left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap in their third and final ODI against Australia women at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on December 2. Making just one change to their lineup for the first international match of the New Year, India excluded all-rounder Sneh Rana due to a concussion injury sustained in the second game of the series.
In a touching moment, Sneh presented Mannat with the India cap during the team huddle before the match commenced. The young spinner from Patiala displayed evident joy as she posed with the India cap at the iconic venue.
Sneh practised ahead of the third ODI in Mumbai, but the Indian team management opted for caution. She had a serious on-field collision with teammate Pooja Vastrakar during the second ODI, requiring hospital scans. Despite the head injury, she bowled her full 10 overs but underwent scans before the Indian chase due to a headache.
In a closely contested match, India narrowly missed the 259-run target by three runs, resulting in a 2-0 unbeatable lead for Australia.
Notably, Mannat is the third Indian, following Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque, to make her ODI debut in the ongoing series against Australia. These three players, along with Bengal pacer Titas Sadhu, are the four uncapped players selected with an eye on preparations for the 2025 World Cup.
IND vs AUS, 3rd WODI Team News
India: Yastika Bhatia, Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Mannat Kashyap, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, Shreyanka Patil.
Australia Playing XI: Alyssa Healy (wk, c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.
WHO IS MANNAT KASHYAP?
Mannat stood out as a remarkable performer in the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023, showcasing her exceptional talent and making significant contributions to India's success. In a pivotal match against Scotland, her bowling skills were highlighted as she delivered a game-changing spell, securing four wickets for just 12 runs.
Throughout the tournament, Kashyap's impact was substantial. Despite playing only two matches in the group stages, she finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker overall and the highest among Indian players. Her efficiency and lethal bowling were evident as she claimed five wickets in just seven overs across those games. In total, she concluded the tournament with an impressive tally of nine wickets in six matches.
The notable performances of the young left-arm spinner in the World Cup garnered attention, leading to high expectations as she entered the WPL 2024 auction. Gujarat Giants (GT) secured her services for Rs 10 lakh.
She further showcased her skills in the final of the Emerging Asia Cup 2023 T20 tournament against Bangladesh. She played a crucial role, taking three wickets and contributing to India's successful defence of 127 runs.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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