India have unveiled a strong 15-member squad for their upcoming four-day Women’s Test against Australia, set to be played at the iconic WACA Ground in Perth from March 6 to 9. The announcement underlines India’s intent to challenge the world’s top-ranked side on their own turf in one of the most anticipated red-ball contests in the women’s calendar.
Harmanpreet Kaur will captain the side, with senior opener Smriti Mandhana named vice-captain, forming an experienced leadership core for the demanding conditions in Western Australia. The squad features many of India’s established match-winners, reflecting the importance the team management has placed on the rare Test encounter.
The Test match comes at the tail end of India’s multi-format tour of Australia, which begins in mid-February and includes three T20Is followed by three ODIs. The tour opener will be a T20I in Sydney on February 15, offering India valuable preparation before switching to the longer format.
India have been forced into a personnel change, with wicketkeeper Gunalan Kamalini ruled out of the tour, prompting the inclusion of Uma Chetry as her replacement across all formats. The adjustment is expected to provide balance and depth to the squad without disrupting the core structure.
The visitors head into the Test with confidence, having crushed South Africa by 10 wickets in Chennai in mid-2024 in their most recent red-ball outing. India also enjoy fond memories against Australia in Tests, having secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory at the Wankhede in December 2023, a result that marked a significant milestone in women’s Test cricket.
With momentum, experience, and recent success on their side, India will look to challenge Australia’s dominance in conditions traditionally favouring the hosts. The Perth Test promises not just a contest between two powerhouse teams, but another crucial step in the revival and growth of women’s red-ball cricket on the global stage.
India’s Women’s 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
