Harmanpreet Kaur To Return? India Women's Probable XI For 2nd ODI Vs New Zealand

Sakshi Sharma

India Women to face NZ women [Source: @BCCIWomen/x.com]India Women to face NZ women [Source: @BCCIWomen/x.com]

India Women will face New Zealand Women in the second ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on (Sunday) October 27. India was clinical in the first ODI of the series, winning it by 59 runs. Notably, the visitors were the same opposition when India lost their first game of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 by 58 runs.

It is important to mention that India was without regular Indian regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who was having a niggle and did not play the first ODI. Tejal Hasnabis made her international debut for India women. However, it will be important to see whether Kaur has recovered fully and is available for the second ODI .  

On the other hand, New Zealand will be without Amelia Kerr, who has contracted a grade-one quadriceps tear. The T20 World Cup 2024 champions would like to make a comeback in the second ODI to level the series and keep the third ODI at the same venue in contention. 

Mandhana, Shafali Crucial Players For The 2nd ODI 

In all likelihood, opener Smriti Mandhana will open the batting for India with Shafali Verma. In the first ODI, Stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana fell early in the match. At no.3 Wicketkeeper batter Yastika Bhatia is likely expected to support the middle-order alongside Jemimah Rodrigues. If Harmanpreet Kaur is available, she will play at no.5 to capitalize on her recent form. 

In the last match, Debutant Tejal Hasabnis, who played a crucial knock of 42 runs, will likely play in place of injured Harmanpreet Kaur, depending on her availability and fitness. In the probable playing XI, Deepti Sharma will be a crucial player to watch out for, as, besides contributing with the ball, the experienced all-rounder can also chip in with some runs at the lower-middle order. 

Along with Deepti, Dayalan Hemalatha will likely play as a specialist batter in the XI, with India focusing more on increasing batting depth. 

Taking a look at the bowling department, Renuka Singh will lead alongside Arundhati Reddy. The duo will likely try to capitalize on their recent form from the T20 World Cup and outfox the White Ferns. Radha Yadav will play a crucial role in the spin department with her left-arm off-spin capabilities. 

India Women's Probable Playing XI vs New Zealand Women

Smriti Mandhana , Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur(c)/ Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Saima Thakor, Renuka Singh Thakur