Fast bowler Renuka Singh will miss the Indian women’s team’s pink-ball Test against Australia, scheduled to commence on March 6 at the WACA in Perth. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced her exclusion to prioritize her workload management and ensure she receives the necessary rest. The medical team of BCCI is set to closely monitor her fitness and recovery during this period.

New Addition to the Squad

Kashvee Gautam has been appointed as Singh’s replacement in the squad. This young fast-bowling all-rounder has shown significant promise, earning her first Test call-up after a commendable start to her limited-overs career. During the recent ODI series against Australia, she recorded a total of 68 runs across three matches, maintaining an average of 22.66 and a strike rate of 85, alongside taking three wickets at an economy of 6.75.

India’s Bowling Line-up

With Renuka absent, India will depend on a formidable pace attack comprising Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, and Sayali Satghare. The spin department will be represented by Deepti Sharma, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Sneh Rana. The team composition aims to bolster India’s chances in the Test format, as they seek to improve their standing in the series.

Previous Performances and Upcoming Challenges

India recently began their tour of Australia with a 2-1 victory in the T20I series. However, they encountered challenges in the ODI format, suffering a whitewash with a 0-3 defeat against Australia, led by Alyssa Healy. These ODI losses have placed India at a disadvantage, trailing 4-8 in the overall points tally of the multi-format series.

Return to Test Cricket

The upcoming Test in Perth marks India’s return to the longest format of the game after more than 18 months. Their previous Test outing was in the Chepauk stadium against South Africa in 2024. The team will be eager to make a strong impression in the Test arena as they navigate the competitive landscape of women’s cricket.

India’s Updated Women’s Test Squad

The Indian women’s Test squad for the upcoming match includes Harmanpreet Kaur as captain, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain. Other notable players include Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Sayali Satghare. This diverse mix of experienced and new players aims to fortify the team’s efforts in the challenging Test match against Australia.

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