Smriti Mandhana to Captain India in ODI Series vs Ireland
Smriti Mandhana has been named as the captain of the Indian team for the three-match ODI series against Ireland and this is a very big milestone in Indian women’s cricket. The series is commencing in Rajkot where India will have Ireland in what promises to be a really exciting contrast. The decision was taken as captain Harmanpreet Kaur and top bowler Renuka Singh Thakur were managed before the tournament to rest after tournament-to-tournament fatigue by both of them.
Harmanpreet Kaur's Absence and Mandhana's Leadership Role
The ex-captain an important pillar of the Indian women’s international cricket team, will not be taking part in the matches of this series.
- This was basically because of the knee injury that she sustained in her last home series against the West Indies.
- Then she skipped the last two T20 matches but did return to play in the 50-over format.
However, now Mandhana, who has been in scintillating form, will lead India to extend the winning streak of the side and will fill in as the captain for the three-match series without the full-time captain. This is why Smriti should be the choice for captaincy:
- WPL 2024 Leadership: She made history by being the captain and guiding the Royal Challengers Bangalore to their maiden WPL trophy, upon defeating Delhi Capitals in their final match.
- Impressive Innings: In the T20I series against West Indies, smashed 77 runs off 47 balls, including a historic streak of seven boundary balls in a row.
- Year 2024 shattered all previous records: Scoring four ODI centuries-the most by any cricketer in a single calendar year-and 763 runs in T20Is, the highest by any cricketer.
- Asian Games Gold Medal: Part of the Indian women’s team that won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou as a vice-captain.
- Prolific Run Scorer: Scored well over 3000 runs in ODIs and T20 internationals, placing her among the top run-scorers in T20I cricket.
Deepti Sharma Vice Captain
Along with Mandhana, Deepti is all set to become vice-captain. She has always been a trusted all-rounder for India, and her experience would prove valuable against Ireland. Her leadership talents will be seen in the series as she assists Mandhana.
India's Squad for the Series
The BCCI has announced a squad of 15 members for the series matches against Ireland. Some significant names include Jemimah, Harleen, and Richa Ghosh, who have recently been successful in matches.
Here’s a look at the squad for the series:
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana (C) | Captain |
| Deepti Sharma (VC) | Vice-Captain |
| Pratika Rawal | Opener |
| Harleen Deol | Batswoman |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Batswoman |
| Uma Chetry (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batswoman |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batswoman |
| Tejal Hasabnis | All-rounder |
| Raghvi Bist | All-rounder |
| Minnu Mani | All-rounder |
| Priya Mishra | Bowler |
| Tanuja Kanwer | Bowler |
| Titas Sadhu | Bowler |
| Saima Thakor | Bowler |
| Sayali Satghare | Bowler |
Renuka Singh and Shefali Verma’s Absence
Renuka has earned the title of Player of the Series by securing 10 wickets in three matches.
- However, after a wonderful display in the ODI series against West Indies, the pacer has been rested.
- There have been past issues of stress fracture in her back but such rests are designed to manage her workload and further injury concerns.
Interestingly, Shafali Verma stands in the list of people expected to miss out, considering the exceptional performance she has shown recently.
- Verma was the highest run-scorer in this year’s Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy, scoring over 500 in seven innings with a total of 527.
- However, in spite of all that form, Verma has been excluded from the squad for the Ireland series, which is a surprise in itself.
Young Talent in the Squad
The series will also provide opportunities for many fresh faces in the future.
- Raghvi Bist and Sayali Satghare have been given a spot in the team.
- Bist has recently made her T20I debut against the West Indies.
- On the other hand, Satghare was called up for the New Zealand series but didn’t get a game. Both players wish to make a difference in the 50-over format.
India-Ireland Series: A Historic Encounter
Most strikingly, it is the first-ever bilateral tour of India by Ireland. The two teams haven’s met to contest an ODI series since 2006, making this a prospective series for both the teams. By far, India has beaten Ireland in all of the 12 ODIs played between them. Their last meeting occurred in the 2023 T20 World Cup, with India winning narrowly by five runs.
Series Schedule
The three-match ODI series will be played in Rajkot at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. All three matches are scheduled to start at 11 AM. Here’s the schedule for the series:
| Match Number | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | January 10 | 11:00 AM |
| 2nd ODI | January 12 | 11:00 AM |
| 3rd ODI | January 15 | 11:00 AM |
Conclusion
This will be an exciting time coming up in the ODI series between India and Ireland, which will test skills but would also be another platform for the team to build on future international challenges. Smriti Mandhana is the captain of India and will keep that important edge over the rest of world cricket as they move towards 2025. Fans can expect thrilling action as the team takes on Ireland, with fresh faces and experienced players coming together for what promises to be an exciting series.
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