Jemimah Rodrigues is back in India colours. The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Monday announced the women’s squads for the all-format tour of South Africa next month, and the fit-again batter finds a place in all three formats after months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
The tour, which begins on December 9, packs seven matches into three weeks: one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. Smriti Mandhana will lead the side in all three formats, with Deepti Sharma as her deputy in the Test and ODI squads and Shafali Verma taking the vice-captaincy for the T20Is.
Jemimah’s long road back
Rodrigues has not played international cricket since July 2026. She picked up a hamstring injury during her stint in The Hundred in England, and the layoff cost her a place in the Asia Cup and the Asian Games squads, as well as the recent home white-ball series against Zimbabwe.
Her return has been earned the hard way. The 26-year-old proved her fitness in the domestic T20 tournament before the selectors backed her for the South Africa trip, and she is the only batter apart from the core group to be named across the Test, ODI and T20I squads. With Harmanpreet Kaur also in all three squads, India will travel with their most experienced middle order intact.
Amanjot Kaur is the other comeback story. The all-rounder returns to the T20I squad after a long injury layoff that has kept her out since India played in Australia in February. She has been picked only for the shortest format for now, as the team management eases her back into international cricket.
What changed in the squads
The ODI squad has seen just two changes from the group that played recently. Rodrigues and Jintimani Kalita come in, with Tejal Hasabnis and Renuka Singh Thakur making way. Renuka, though, has not been dropped altogether. She features in the T20I squad, where her new-ball skills remain part of the plan.
Shreyanka Patil is the notable omission from the T20I squad. With Deepti Sharma, Sree Charani and a clutch of other spin options in the mix, the selectors have gone for depth in other departments. Vaishnavi Sharma, meanwhile, is a format-specific pick, named only for the ODIs.
The Test squad is a 15-member group, the ODI squad also has 15 players, and the T20I squad is the largest at 17. Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia are the wicketkeepers in the longer formats, with G. Kamalini added as a second keeper for the T20Is. Young names such as Niki Prasad, Anushka Sharma and Prema Rawat get their chance in the T20I setup.
India’s squads for South Africa
Test: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma (vice-capt), Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare.
ODI: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma (vice-capt), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare.
T20I: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Shafali Verma (vice-capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Niki Prasad, Richa Ghosh (wk), G. Kamalini (wk), Anushka Sharma, Deepti Sharma, Sree Charani, Prema Rawat, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare.
The tour schedule
The one-off Test opens the tour in Gqeberha on December 9. The ODI series follows from December 16, with matches in Paarl, Cape Town and Bloemfontein on December 16, 19 and 22. The T20I series closes the tour with games on December 26, 29 and 30.
The ODIs carry more than bilateral pride. They form part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29 cycle, which decides qualification for the 2029 Women’s World Cup, so every point counts for Mandhana’s side. The Test, meanwhile, is a rare chance for the women’s team to play the longest format away from home.
Why this tour matters
India’s selectors have largely stuck with a tried and tested core, and the message is clear: continuity first, with comebacks slotted in where fitness allows. Rodrigues returning to all three formats is the headline, but the quieter story is the balance of the squads. There is experience in the batting, variety in the spin attack, and fresh legs in the pace department with Kranti Gaud and Nandni Sharma featuring across formats.
South Africa at home are never an easy assignment, and December conditions will test the batters early in the tour. For Rodrigues, the trip is a chance to pick up where she left off in July. For Amanjot and Renuka, it is a chance to prove they belong in the plans for the bigger assignments ahead. For Mandhana, leading in all three formats, it is a tour that will set the tone for the year to come.
FAQs
When does India’s women’s tour of South Africa start?
The one-off Test begins on December 9, 2026 in Gqeberha. The ODI series runs from December 16 to 22, and the T20I series from December 26 to 30.
Is Jemimah Rodrigues back in the Indian team?
Yes. She has been named in all three squads for the South Africa tour after recovering from a hamstring injury. She last played international cricket in July 2026.
Who is captaining India on the South Africa tour?
Smriti Mandhana will lead India in the Test, ODI and T20I squads. Deepti Sharma is vice-captain for the Tests and ODIs, and Shafali Verma is vice-captain for the T20Is.
Why is Renuka Singh Thakur not in the ODI squad?
Renuka has been picked only for the T20I squad. Jintimani Kalita and Jemimah Rodrigues came into the ODI squad in place of Tejal Hasabnis and Renuka.
Do the ODIs count towards World Cup qualification?
Yes. The three ODIs are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29 cycle, which determines qualification for the 2029 Women’s World Cup.
India fly out next month with a settled core and two players returning from injury. If Rodrigues finds her rhythm early in Gqeberha, this could be the tour that puts her right back at the heart of India’s plans.
