The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Harmanpreet Kaur set to lead the side and Smriti Mandhana named as vice-captain.
The tournament will be held in England from June 12 to July 5, featuring 12 teams split into two groups. India are placed in Group A alongside South Africa, Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, while defending champions New Zealand are in Group B with England, Ireland, West Indies, Scotland and Sri Lanka.
Despite a strong squad on paper, several notable names have been left out of the selection.
Pratika Rawal Misses Out
Pratika Rawal, who partnered Smriti Mandhana during India’s ODI World Cup campaign, has not been included in the squad.
The 25-year-old had sustained an ankle and knee injury during the 2025 Women’s World Cup and has been out of action for a period. Although she was fit ahead of selection, the team management opted to move in a different direction.
Notably, Rawal has yet to make her T20I debut for India, with Yastika Bhatia preferred as an alternative option.
“We discussed Pratika’s name, but decided to go for Yastika’s experience. She can keep wickets as well,” said BCCI’s chairperson for women, Amita Sharma.
Harleen Deol Left Out
Harleen Deol’s absence is among the more surprising omissions from the squad. While she has featured in the shortest format, her recent performances have not stood out.
Her record in the Women’s Premier League 2026 did not strengthen her case, and she has had limited appearances in recent seasons.
“We thought Bharti Fulmali would be a better option than Harleen,” Amita Sharma said regarding the decision.
Vaishnavi Sharma Not Selected
Vaishnavi Sharma, who made her international debut in December, also misses out on the squad.
The 20-year-old has shown promise with the ball and earned a place in the Mumbai Indians squad for WPL 2026 as a replacement player. However, selectors opted for a different combination.
Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil were preferred as spin options alongside Deepti Sharma, while the overall balance of the squad was tilted towards strengthening the pace attack in English conditions.
Other Notable Absentees
Alongside these players, several other names did not make the final 15, including Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam and Anushka Sharma.
Their absence reflects the selection choices made as India shape a squad aimed at competing strongly in the upcoming tournament.
