Smriti Mandhana to lead India in Tests for the first time as BCCI announces squads for South Africa tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's squads for the upcoming all-format tour of South Africa, with Smriti Mandhana set to lead the team across all three formats. The tour will feature a one-off Test, three ODIs and three T20Is, beginning on December 9.

Mandhana will captain India in the Test format for the first time since taking over the leadership from Harmanpreet Kaur. Deepti Sharma has been named vice-captain for the Test and ODI squads, while Shafali Verma will serve as Mandhana's deputy in the T20I series.

Jemimah Rodrigues has returned to the Indian squad after missing the Asia Cup, Asian Games and the Zimbabwe series due to injury. Jintimani Kalita has also earned her maiden call-up to the Test squad.

Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal and Richa Ghosh are among the players included across the three squads. The Test and ODI squads feature 15 players each, while the T20I squad has 17 members.

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The one-off Test will begin on December 9 in Gqeberha. The limited-overs leg will start with the first ODI in Paarl on December 16, followed by the second ODI in Cape Town on December 19 and the third in Bloemfontein on December 22.

The three-match T20I series will begin on December 26 in Benoni. Potchefstroom will host the final two matches on December 29 and 30.

India squads for South Africa tour

Test Squad: Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Deepti Sharma (VC), Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare.

ODI Squad: Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Deepti Sharma (VC), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare.

T20I Squad: Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma (VC), 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.