Mumbai teenager Jemimah Rodrigues earned her first call-up to India’s senior squad on the back of an excellent run in the domestic season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced a 16-member squad that will tour South Africa. Rodrigues, who finished as the third highest run-getter in the recently completed Challenger Trophy, has been in fine form.
“It’s a dream of any cricketer to play for India and raise your helmet and bat. And I hope that I score a double century even while playing for India,” Jemimah had told The Field in an earlier interview.
India, led by veteran Mithali Raj will play three One-day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals against the South Africans.
Only pacer Mansi Joshi and wicketkeeper Nuzhat Parveen have missed out from India’s squad that enjoyed a dream run during the 2017 World Cup, finishing runner-up.
Apart from 17-year-old Rodrigues, two others – 18-year-old Madhya Pradesh medium-pacer Pooja Vastrakar and Punjab wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia – who also make their way into the squad. India play their first ODI on February 2 in Kimberley.
Squad
Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Sushma Verma (wk), Ekta Bisht, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Yadav, Punam Raut, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jhulan Goswami, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Mona Meshram, Pooja Vastrakar, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wk)