Yastika Bhatia to captain India A in ODIs and multi-day game vs Australia A
Synopsis
Yastika Bhatia — the first batter to score a women's Test century at Lord's — will captain India A in both the 50-over and four-day formats against Australia A, while Anushka Sharma takes charge of the T20s. The BCCI has made sweeping squad changes from the England A tour, signalling a deliberate rotation and depth-building exercise ahead of senior international cycles.
Key Takeaways
Yastika Bhatia named captain of India A for the 50-over and multi-day formats against Australia A .
Anushka Sharma appointed T20 captain ; Sayali Satghare is her deputy.
Series runs from 12 September (T20s in New Chandigarh) through 2 October (four-day match in Dharamshala).
Multiple squad changes from the England A tour, including call-ups for Shipra Giri , Amandeep Kaur , Shubha Satheesh , and Sushree Dibyadarshini .
One-day matches at PCA Stadium, Mohali on 20, 23, and 25 September .
Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been appointed captain of India A for the 50-over and multi-day formats of the upcoming home series against Australia A, while batting all-rounder Anushka Sharma will lead the side in the T20 games, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Thursday, 27 August. The multi-format series marks a significant opportunity for India's next generation of women cricketers ahead of future international assignments.
Captaincy and Vice-Captaincy Split
In the T20 format, Anushka Sharma takes the captaincy with seam-bowling all-rounder Sayali Satghare named as her deputy. For both the one-day and red-ball sides, Yastika Bhatia assumes the leadership role, with Anushka serving as vice-captain across those two formats. Yastika, notably the first batter to score a century in a women's Test at Lord's, brings considerable experience to the longer formats.
Key Selection Changes Across Formats
The women's selection committee has made notable structural changes compared to the India A squads that toured England in July and won the 50-over series there. In the T20 setup, top-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, fast bowler Sayali Satghare, wicketkeeper Shipra Giri, and Sujata Dey have earned call-ups, replacing G Kamalini, Purvaja Verlekar, Saima Thakor, and Deeya Yadav.
The one-day squad sees fresh inclusions in left-arm wrist-spinner Amandeep Kaur and pacer Akshita Bhagat, alongside Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma, who both missed the previous 50-over leg in England. They come in for Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal, G Kamalini, Tanuja Kanwer, and Saima Thakor. The multi-day squad adds Test batter Shubha Satheesh, all-rounder Sushree Dibyadarshini, left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay, and wicketkeeper Mamata Madiwala.
Full Schedule
The series opens with three T20 matches in New Chandigarh on 12, 15, and 17 September. Action then moves to the PCA Stadium, Mohali, for three one-day fixtures on 20, 23, and 25 September. The tour concludes with a four-day match in Dharamshala from 29 September to 2 October.
Full Squads
India A T20 squad: Anushka Sharma (captain), Sayali Satghare (vc), Vrinda Dinesh, Sujata Dey, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Shipra Giri (wk), Shweta Sehrawat, Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Minnu Mani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel, Simran Dil Bahadur.
India A One-Day squad: Yastika Bhatia (captain & wk), Anushka Sharma (vc), Vrinda Dinesh, Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Uma Chetry (wk), Minnu Mani, Amandeep Kaur, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel, Akshita Bhagat.
India A Multi-Day squad: Yastika Bhatia (captain & wk), Anushka Sharma (vc), Shubha Satheesh, Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Tejal Hasabnis, Nikki Prasad, Mamata Madiwala (wk), Sushree Dibyadarshini, Shuchi Upadhyay, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnam Shakeel, Akshita Bhagat.
With the series beginning on 12 September, India A's performance against Australia A will be closely watched as a gauge of depth in Indian women's cricket ahead of future senior assignments.
Point of View
Anushka for T20s — reflects a deliberate BCCI strategy to groom multiple leaders simultaneously rather than funnel all developmental exposure through one player. What stands out is the scale of squad churn from the England tour: nearly a third of spots have changed across formats in under two months, suggesting the selectors are running a wide audition rather than consolidating a settled group. That is both an opportunity and a risk — continuity builds combinations, and too much rotation can obscure who is actually ready for senior cricket. The inclusion of red-ball specialists like Shubha Satheesh and Shuchi Upadhyay in the multi-day squad is a positive signal for India's Test pipeline, a format the women's game is still working to expand.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will captain India A in the ODIs against Australia A?
Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia will captain India A in the one-day matches against Australia A. Anushka Sharma serves as her vice-captain in the 50-over format.
Who is the T20 captain for India A vs Australia A?
Batting all-rounder Anushka Sharma has been named T20 captain for India A, with Sayali Satghare as vice-captain. The T20 matches are scheduled for 12, 15, and 17 September in New Chandigarh.
When and where is the India A vs Australia A series?
The series begins on 12 September with T20s in New Chandigarh, moves to PCA Stadium, Mohali for ODIs on 20, 23, and 25 September, and concludes with a four-day match in Dharamshala from 29 September to 2 October.
What changes have been made from the India A squad that toured England?
Several players have been rotated out. In T20s, Shipra Giri, Sujata Dey, Tejal Hasabnis, and Sayali Satghare come in for G Kamalini, Purvaja Verlekar, Saima Thakor, and Deeya Yadav. The one-day side adds Amandeep Kaur and Akshita Bhagat, while the multi-day squad includes Shubha Satheesh, Sushree Dibyadarshini, Shuchi Upadhyay, and Mamata Madiwala.
Why is Yastika Bhatia a notable choice as captain?
Yastika Bhatia is the first batter to score a century in a women's Test match at Lord's, making her one of the most experienced red-ball players in India's developmental setup. Her appointment across both the 50-over and four-day formats reflects the selectors' confidence in her leadership across longer formats.
