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After suffering a 4-1 thrashing in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series, the Indian women’s cricket team will lock horns with South Africa in the first of the three-match T20I series in Lucknow on Saturday, March 20.

India were rusty throughout the 50-over format as they returned to competitive international action after 12 months. The lack of match practice was evident as the hosts were found wanting in all three departments of the game.

The questionable omissions of Shikha Pandey, Veda Krishnamurthy, Ekta Bisht and Taniya Bhatiya from the ODI and T20I squads have further raised questions. India have also failed to perform on tracks that don’t assist spinners along with their over-reliance on the senior pros including Mitahli Raj, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jhulan Goswami.

Meanwhile, the hosts suffered a massive blow as their captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been ruled out of the opening T20I due to a hip-flexor injury. In her absence, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will lead the side as the Indian team will hope to put on a better show in the shortest format.

For the South African women’s cricket team, Lizelle Lee, Mignon du Preez and Anneke Bosch have been in incredible form with the bat. Proteas captain Sune Luus will hope that they can continue their good run.

Pacer Shabnim Ismail (7 wickets) and Tumi Sekhukhune (5 wickets) have been South Africa’s standout bowlers, while medium pacers Marizanne Kapp (3) and Nadine de Klerk (3) too have contributed with decent spells.

All the matches will be played at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow.

India women vs South Africa women T20I squads

India women’s T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Nuzhat Parveen (wicket-keeper), Ayushi Soni, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel, C. Prathyusha, Simran Dil Bahadur

South Africa women’s T20I squad: Sune Luus (captain), Ayabonga Khaka, Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt, Trisha Chetty (wicket-keeper), Sinalo Jafta (wicket-keeper), Tasmin Britz (wicket-keeper), Marizanne Kapp, Nondumiso Shangase, Lizelle Lee (wicket-keeper), Anneke Bosch, Faye Tunnicliffe (wicket-keeper), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Mignon du Preez (wicket-keeper), Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Tumi Sekhukhune

India women vs South Africa women T20I schedule, fixtures and live India match times

Date and Day

Match

Time (IST)

Venue

Saturday, March 20

India women vs South Africa women, 1st T20I

7:00 PM IST

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Stadium, Lucknow

Sunday, March 21

India women vs South Africa women, 2nd T20I

7:00 PM IST

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Stadium, Lucknow

Tuesday, March 23

India women vs South Africa women, 3rd T20I

7:00 PM IST

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Stadium, Lucknow

Where to watch India Women vs South Africa Women T20I series live?  

The India Women vs South Africa Women T20I series will be telecast live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD TV channels in India. 

Live streaming of the India Women vs South Africa Women T20I series will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar.

Feature image courtesy: Randy Brooks / AFP





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