India stick to Women's T20 World Cup core as Shreyanka Patil returns; no Harleen for Australia series

The Indian women's team is scheduled to play three WT20Is and as many WODIs against Australia away from home.

The Women’s World ODI champions, India, are backing their core group and have recently announced the white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of Australia. They have handed a deserved T20I recall to Bharti Fulmali and welcomed back a fully fit Shreyanka Patil after a long injury layoff. The BCCI announced separate squads for the three T20Is and three ODIs late on Friday night, with Harmanpreet Kaur continuing as captain and Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.

Shreyanka Patil returns for IND vs AUS

The biggest talking point is the return of off-spinning all-rounder Shreyanka, who last played for India during the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. Now, she returns a few months before the 2026 Women’s World Cup. A string of injuries kept her out through most of 2025, including the previous WPL season, but the 22-year-old forced her way back with a sensational five-wicket haul for RCB just a day before the squad was picked.

In the ongoing WPL 2026, she has already bagged eight wickets across four innings and enjoys a bowling economy of 18.63. She has helped RCB win all four of their games so far in the tournament.

India have also rewarded domestic performance by recalling middle-order batter Bharti Fulmali, whose only two T20Is came way back in 2019. The Vidarbha power-hitter has been in eye-catching form in the ongoing WPL, striking at over 170 across two explosive knocks, and selectors clearly see her as a potential finisher for the future. That’s why there’s no Sajeevan Sajana in the team as well.

The only notable omission from the last T20I assignment against Sri Lanka is Harleen Deol, who makes the ODI squad but loses her place in the shortest format. Deol recently roared back to form as she turned her humiliating retire-out into a match-winning performance for UP Warriorz.

What about Women’s World Cup-winning team?

For the ODIs that follow the T20Is, the selectors have stayed close to the core that delivered the 2025 World Cup. Shafali Verma retains her opening slot after stepping in brilliantly for the injured Pratika Rawal during the global event. Rawal continues to recover from a knee problem, while Yastika Bhatia remains in rehabilitation after surgery last September.

Young wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini earns a maiden ODI call-up after impressing at the domestic level, and seamer Kashvee Gautam is the other new face. Radha Yadav and Arundhati Reddy, part of the World Cup squad, miss out as India look to broaden their options ahead of a demanding year. Unfortunately for Radha, she isn’t part of either squad.

India’s women’s T20I squad vs Australia

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil

India’s women’s ODI squad vs Australia

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol

The tour begins with the first T20I at the SCG on February 15, followed by games in Canberra and Adelaide. The three-match ODI series starts on February 24 in Brisbane before shifting to Hobart. The squad for the one-off Test in Perth will be named later.

India tour of Australia schedule