Nandni Sharma earns maiden Test call-up for Lord's clash, Charani replaces Vaishnavi
Synopsis
Nandni Sharma's hat-trick in the WPL has earned her a maiden Test call-up, while Yastika Bhatia's return signals a tactical shift in India's wicketkeeping setup. The Lord's Test itself is historic — the first women's Test ever at the iconic venue. With Renuka back and Charani replacing Vaishnavi in a spin reshuffle, India is signalling a blend of youth and experience ahead of a landmark summer.
Key Takeaways
Nandni Sharma earns maiden Test call-up after taking a hat-trick in the WPL and 17 wickets for Delhi Capitals .
Yastika Bhatia returns to the Test squad, replacing Uma Chetry , who played in the Perth Test against Australia .
Left-arm spinner N Sree Charani (uncapped) replaces fellow uncapped spinner Vaishnavi Sharma in a like-for-like swap.
All-rounder Renuka Singh Thakur makes a comeback after injury recovery.
The Lord's Test on July 10-13 will be the first-ever women's Test match at the iconic London venue.
Seam-bowling all-rounders Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam were excluded due to back and knee injuries respectively.
Nandni Sharma, the pacer who claimed a hat-trick in the Women's Premier League this season, has earned her maiden Test call-up for India's historic one-off Test against England at Lord's on July 10-13. Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has also returned to the Test squad, replacing Uma Chetry, who featured in the Perth Test against Australia earlier this year.
Key Selection Changes
Fast bowler Nandni, who took 17 wickets for Delhi Capitals in the WPL and represented India A at the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok, becomes the first Indian pacer to record a hat-trick in the franchise tournament. All-rounder Renuka Singh Thakur has also made a comeback after recovering from injury. Left-arm spinner N Sree Charani, uncapped, replaces fellow uncapped left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma in a like-for-like swap in the spin department.
Injury Setbacks
Seam-bowling all-rounders Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam were not considered for selection due to back and right knee injuries respectively. Their exclusion marks a notable gap in the squad's all-round depth.
Historic Milestone at Lord's
The Test at Lord's holds special significance as it will be the first-ever women's Test match to be played at the iconic London venue. This marks a landmark moment for women's cricket on the global stage.
India A Setup and Leadership
Uma Chetry and Vaishnavi Sharma have been included in India A squads for three one-day matches and three T20 matches against England A, scheduled from June 20 to July 4. Venues for the T20 games include Northampton and Chelmsford, while Hove and Taunton will host the 50-over contests. Anushka Sharma, who recently debuted in the T20I series against South Africa, will captain the T20 leg alongside vice-captain Vrinda Dinesh. For the 50-over games, Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal will lead.
Full Squad Lists
India Test Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), N Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandni Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana.
India A One-Day Squad: Harleen Deol (captain), Pratika Rawal (vice-captain), Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, G Kamalini (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Prema Rawat, Tanuja Kanwar, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shabnam Shakil, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Saima Thakor.
India A T20 Squad: Anushka Sharma (captain), Vrinda Dinesh (vice-captain), G Kamalini (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Vaishnavi Sharma, Prema Rawat, Purvaja Verlekar, Jintimani Kalita, Saima Thakor, Simran Bahadur, Shweta Sehrawat, Deeya Yadav, Minnu Mani, Shabnam Shakil, Tanuja Kanwar.
Point of View
The injury absences of Amanjot and Kashvee expose a fragility in India's all-round depth. Yastika's return over Uma signals a preference for batting depth at the keeper position, a choice that could reshape India's middle-order balance. The Lord's venue itself is a watershed: women's cricket at Lord's was unthinkable a decade ago.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nandni Sharma and why was she selected for the Test?
Nandni Sharma is a fast bowler who became the first Indian pacer to take a hat-trick in the Women's Premier League this season, picking 17 wickets for Delhi Capitals. She also represented India A at the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok, earning her maiden Test call-up for the Lord's fixture.
Why was Yastika Bhatia recalled to the Test squad?
Yastika Bhatia, a wicketkeeper-batter, has replaced Uma Chetry in the Test squad. She was also selected for three T20Is against England and the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, signalling the selectors' confidence in her as a keeper-batter option.
What is significant about the Lord's Test?
The Test at Lord's on July 10-13 will be the first-ever women's Test match to be played at the iconic London venue, marking a historic milestone for women's cricket globally.
Which players were injured and excluded from selection?
Seam-bowling all-rounders Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam were not considered for selection due to back and right knee injuries respectively.
What is the India A schedule against England A?
India A will play three one-day matches and three T20 matches against England A from June 20 to July 4. T20 games are scheduled at Northampton and Chelmsford, while 50-over matches will be held at Hove and Taunton.
