India and South Africa will embark on a three-week long all-format series, kicking off with an ODI on Sunday. While the broader picture of the Women’s T20 World Cup looms in the background, the 50-over matches hold significant weight for both teams. They are crucial for gaining momentum and solidifying their strategies as they prepare for the ICC showpiece, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in October.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian side is riding high after a clean sweep against Bangladesh in a recent T20I series, aiming to build on this momentum. They had previously suffered a loss in the ODI and T20I series against Australia at home in January, making this series even more important for them. South Africa, on the other hand, will be looking to make a strong statement and prove their credentials in the international arena.
The match will be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which has hosted 12 Women’s ODIs in the past. The last women’s ODI held there was in July 2015, when India faced New Zealand. The stadium is known to favor chasing sides due to its smaller boundaries. The first ODI between India Women and South Africa Women will be broadcast on the Sports18 network in India, with live streaming available through the JioCinema app and website.
India Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetri (WK), Dayalan Hemlatha, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Priya Punia.
