The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced three India A women’s squads for the upcoming Australia A tour of India, setting up a multi-format contest that will give several emerging players an important opportunity to test themselves against strong Australian opposition.
The tour will feature three T20 matches, three One-Day games and a four-day multi-day fixture. Anushka Sharma has been appointed captain of the India A T20 team, while wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia will lead the One-Day and multi-day sides. Sayali Satghare has been named Anushka’s deputy in the T20 squad, with Anushka serving as Bhatia’s vice-captain in the other two formats.
The Australia A series will begin on September 12 with the opening T20 in New Chandigarh. The second and third T20s will be played at the same venue on September 15 and 17. The action will then move to the PCA Stadium in Mohali for three One-Day matches on September 20, 23 and 25.
The tour will conclude with a four-day multi-day game in Dharamshala from September 29 to October 2. The varied schedule will allow players to experience different demands, from the fast pace of T20 cricket to the longer challenges of the multi-day format.
The T20 squad contains a mix of young players and familiar names from the domestic and India A setup. Alongside captain Anushka Sharma and vice-captain Sayali Satghare are Vrinda Dinesh, Sujata Dey, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Shipra Giri, Shweta Sehrawat, Uma Chetry, Tanuja Kanwer, Minnu Mani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel and Simran Dil Bahadur.
The One-Day squad brings Bhatia into a prominent leadership role. She will also take responsibility behind the stumps, with Anushka as vice-captain. The squad includes Vrinda Dinesh, Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Uma Chetry, Minnu Mani, Amandeep Kaur, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel and Akshita Bhagat.
Bhatia will also captain the multi-day team, which has a slightly different combination designed for the longer format. Shubha Satheesh, Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Tejal Hasabnis and Nikki Prasad are among the batters selected, while Mamata Madiwala has been included as wicketkeeper. The squad also features Sushree Dibyadarshini, Shuchi Upadhyay, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel and Akshita Bhagat.
This assignment provides an important chance for Bhatia to take on greater responsibility after being left out of India’s squad for the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup. Her selection as captain for both the One-Day and multi-day teams gives her an opportunity to demonstrate leadership as well as consistency with the bat and gloves.
Bhatia also arrives with recent international experience behind her. She featured in India’s historic Test against England at Lord’s and scored a century, an innings that strengthened her credentials in the longer format. The India A assignment could therefore serve as another significant step in her bid to remain in contention for the senior team.
The Australia A tour is equally important for players trying to move closer to international cricket. A multi-format programme gives the selectors an opportunity to assess players in different conditions and roles. Young batters can gain experience against quality bowling, while all-rounders and bowlers will have opportunities to show how effectively they can adapt between formats.
Players such as Vaishnavi Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel, Nikki Prasad and Tejal Hasabnis will be among those looking to make the most of the opportunity. The presence of experienced players such as Priya Punia and Bhatia should also provide stability to the younger members of the group.
The series will also test India A against an Australia A side that is expected to provide competitive opposition. The Australian group includes players with domestic and representative cricket experience, making the contest useful preparation for India’s next generation of international players. Australia A will also use different captains across the formats, underlining the development-oriented nature of the tour.
This Australia A tour is more than a developmental assignment. It provides a bridge between domestic cricket and the senior international side. Performances in these games can influence future selections, while captains such as Anushka and Bhatia will have the added responsibility of guiding players who are still establishing themselves.
The scheduling of the tour across New Chandigarh, Mohali and Dharamshala also gives the India A players exposure to different playing environments. The T20 leg will demand quick decision-making and adaptability, while the One-Day series will test consistency and game awareness. The four-day fixture will offer the clearest examination of technique, temperament and endurance.
