The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the India women’s squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa. The tour will begin on 17 April 2026 and all matches will be played in South Africa.
This series is an important part of India’s preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to take place in England in June. The team management will use this tour to finalize combinations and give players match practice before the global tournament.
Harmanpreet Kaur to Lead the Team
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indian side in the five-match series, while Smriti Mandhana has been named the vice-captain.
India has selected a balanced squad that includes experienced batters, all-rounders, and young bowlers. The squad also features two wicketkeeping options to strengthen the batting lineup and provide flexibility in team selection.
However, Vaishnavi Sharma has not been included in the squad for this tour.
India Women’s Squad for South Africa Tour 2026
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Captain |
| Smriti Mandhana | Vice-Captain |
| Shafali Verma | Batter |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Batter |
| Deepti Sharma | All-rounder |
| Richa Ghosh | Wicketkeeper |
| Arundhati Reddy | Bowler |
| Renuka Thakur | Bowler |
| Kranti Gaud | Bowler |
| Sree Charani | Bowler |
| Shreyanka Patil | All-rounder |
| Kashvee Gautam | All-rounder |
| Bharti Fulmali | Batter |
| Uma Chetry | Wicketkeeper |
| Anushka Sharma | All-rounder |
The squad combines experienced international players with emerging talents who will look to prove themselves before the World Cup.
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India Tour of South Africa 2026 – T20I Series Schedule
India will play five T20I matches during the tour. The first two games will be held in Durban, while the remaining matches will be played in Johannesburg and Benoni.
| No. | Date | Time (IST) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 April 2026 | 9:30 PM | 1st T20I | Durban |
| 2 | 19 April 2026 | 5:30 PM | 2nd T20I | Durban |
| 3 | 22 April 2026 | 9:30 PM | 3rd T20I | Johannesburg |
| 4 | 25 April 2026 | 9:30 PM | 4th T20I | Johannesburg |
| 5 | 27 April 2026 | 5:30 PM | 5th T20I | Benoni |
The series will give India a good opportunity to test their squad against a strong South African team in away conditions.
This tour will play a key role in India’s preparation for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The matches will help the team:
- Test player combinations
- Prepare for international conditions
- Give young players experience before the World Cup
- Strengthen the team’s batting and bowling balance
The performance of players during this series could influence the final squad selection for the upcoming global tournament.
India will aim to build momentum during this tour and fine-tune their strategies before the World Cup campaign begins.
