India Women Announce 15-Member Squad for Perth Test: Five Debutants Named for Historic Australia Clash

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the highly anticipated one-off Test match against Australia Women, scheduled to be played in Perth from March 6, 2026. The selection committee has infused fresh talent into the squad, with five players receiving their maiden Test call-ups.

Five New Faces in the Test Setup

Pratika Rawal, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Sayali Satghare are the quintet of players featuring in an India Women's Test squad for the first time. This significant influx of new talent signals the selectors' intent to build depth ahead of what promises to be a challenging assignment in Australian conditions.

Pratika Rawal's Return After World Cup Setback

Pratika Rawal makes a welcome return to the India setup after her participation in the victorious 2025 World Cup campaign was cut short due to a hairline fracture to her right ankle. The promising batter is also part of the UP Warriorz squad in the ongoing Women's Premier League but is yet to feature in the tournament, with the team still awaiting medical clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.

Shafali Verma Retains Opening Spot

Shafali Verma, who stepped in to replace Rawal during the semifinal and final of the World Cup, has retained her place in the Test squad. The explosive opener has been a consistent presence at the top of the order alongside vice-captain Smriti Mandhana in India's last five Tests.

Verma enters this fixture in exceptional form, having scored a career-best 205 against South Africa in her previous Test outing—a knock that underlined her growing maturity in the longest format.

Middle Order Options and Wicketkeeping Duties

Harleen Deol returns to the Test squad having last been named in squads for the Tests against England and Australia in 2023. Notably, she is yet to make her Test debut, and the Perth fixture could present her with that opportunity. The middle order is further bolstered by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Test newcomer Amanjot Kaur.

Richa Ghosh and Uma Chetry are the two wicketkeeping options in the squad. Ghosh, who has played two Tests with her last appearance coming against South Africa as the designated gloveperson, brings valuable experience. Chetry, still awaiting her Test debut, has also been named in India's T20I and ODI squads as a replacement for G Kamalini, who was recently ruled out of the WPL due to a shoulder injury.

Bowling Attack: Spin and Seam Options

The spin department features experienced all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, both of whom have been instrumental in India's recent Test performances. Newcomer Vaishnavi Sharma adds variety to the slow bowling options.

On the seam front, Renuka Thakur leads the pace attack, supported by Kranti Gaud and the versatile Amanjot Kaur, who offers additional seam bowling capability alongside her batting prowess.

Notable Omissions

Several players who were part of the Test squad against South Africa have missed out on selection:

• Saika Ishaque
• Rajeshwari Gayakwad
• Pooja Vastrakar
• Arundhati Reddy
• Meghna Singh
• Priya Punia

India A Squad for ACC Rising Star Asia Cup

In related news, the Women's Selection Committee has also named a 15-member India A squad for the ACC Rising Star Asia Cup, to be played in the T20 format in Thailand from February 13 to 22. Radha Yadav will captain the side, which includes promising talents such as Vrinda Dinesh, Anushka Sharma, and Nandni Sharma.

India A have been placed in Group B alongside UAE, Pakistan A, and Nepal. Their campaign begins against UAE on February 13, followed by matches against Pakistan on February 15 and Nepal on February 17. The semifinals are scheduled for February 20, with the final set for February 22.

Full India 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

Looking Ahead

The one-off Test in Perth represents a significant challenge for India Women against the formidable Australian side on their home turf. With five uncapped players in the squad and the return of key personnel like Pratika Rawal, the management appears to be balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term squad development.

The Test will serve as a crucial examination of India's depth and their ability to compete in overseas conditions as they continue to build toward future multi-format series and ICC events.