QUICK TAKE | Smriti Mandhana Takes Charge Across Formats in South Africa. Seven Things to Know
1. What’s new about Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy?
The BCCI gave Mandhana the ODI and T20I captaincy on October 6 after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down. The December squad announcement puts Mandhana in charge of the Test as well. She had already led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs when she was appointed and has captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two WPL titles.
2. Where does that leave Harmanpreet Kaur?
The captain who led India to their first women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025 remains in the Test, ODI and T20I squads. That World Cup final was also against South Africa, whom India beat by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
3. Who will be Mandhana’s deputies?
All-rounder Deepti Sharma is vice-captain for the Test and ODIs. Opener Shafali Verma takes the role for the T20Is. Both are in all three squads, alongside Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh and Kranti Gaud.
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4. What’s the standout selection detail?
The 15-player Test and ODI squads differ by a single name. Sneh Rana is in the Test squad and Vaishnavi Sharma takes her place for the ODIs. Rana took eight wickets in South Africa’s first innings when India beat them by 10 wickets in Chennai in 2024.
5. Who comes in for the T20Is?
The 17-player squad includes Niki Prasad, Anushka Sharma, Prema Rawat and Amanjot Kaur. Renuka Singh Thakur and Arundhati Reddy join the pace options. G. Kamalini is the second wicketkeeper alongside Richa Ghosh, with Yastika Bhatia picked for the Test and ODIs.
6. When and where do India play?
The Test starts on December 9 in Gqeberha. The ODIs are in Paarl on December 16, Cape Town on December 19 and Bloemfontein on December 22. The T20Is start in Benoni on December 26, with the last two in Potchefstroom on December 29 and 30.
7. Why do the December T20Is matter?
India host the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy from February 14 to 28, 2027. It’s a six-team T20I event, and South Africa are in the field. The three December games give Mandhana a look at a direct rival and a chance to try out combinations before the tournament.