India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in England and Wales from June to July, was announced on May 2, drawing widespread attention. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the squad presents a balanced mix of experience and emerging talent, with expectations high following their ODI World Cup triumph.
While several selections have been welcomed, a few notable omissions have prompted discussion, particularly around players unavailable due to injury or those narrowly missing out on selection.
Kashvee Gautam Ruled Out by Injury
Kashvee Gautam’s absence from the squad is due to injury. She sustained a knee issue during the recent series against South Africa and is expected to undergo surgery. This continues a pattern of setbacks in her career, including missing the ODI World Cup 2025 after an injury during her debut series against Sri Lanka.
She also missed the Women’s Premier League 2024 after being signed by Gujarat Giants as the highest-paid uncapped player, due to a stress fracture in her left foot/ankle. In WPL 2026, she took eight wickets and contributed with the bat, while in the South Africa series she managed one wicket.
Amanjot Kaur Also Unavailable
Amanjot Kaur’s exclusion has been widely discussed, with her absence also due to injury. The seam-bowling all-rounder has been out of action with a back injury.
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Speaking on her absence, Harmanpreet Kaur said: “Amanjot, she was our key player. Unfortunately, she is not available. She is away from cricket for the next four to five months. It was very difficult to find someone like her who could come into that place. But still we are trying, we have got Radha back in the side.”
Chief selector Amit Sharma added: “She is also an all-rounder who can contribute with bat, ball and on the field. It was very hard to find a replacement for Amanjot. We replaced her with Kashvee, and now, she is also injured. We replaced her with Nandni”.
Nandani Sharma Earns Selection
In the absence of key all-rounders, Nandani Sharma has been included in the squad following her performances in the Women’s Premier League 2026. She picked up 17 wickets in 10 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 8.31 and recording a five-wicket haul against Gujarat Giants.
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Anushka Sharma Misses Out
Anushka Sharma is another player who has not been included. The 23-year-old had a productive WPL season, scoring 177 runs in seven matches with a highest score of 44.
She was part of the T20 squad against South Africa but did not secure a place in the final squad. Her role in the middle order was noted, but the selectors opted for Yastika Bhatia, who provides both a backup opening option and wicketkeeping cover.
Squad Overview
India’s squad for the tournament includes:
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav.
Selection Reflects Balance and Availability
The final squad highlights a combination of experienced players and emerging talent, with selection decisions influenced by form, role requirements, and injuries. While some absences have drawn attention, the chosen group reflects the team’s approach heading into a major global tournament.
