India have named a strong and balanced 15-member squad for the upcoming four-day Women’s Test match against Australia Women, scheduled to be played at the iconic WACA Ground in Perth from March 6 to March 9, 2026. The announcement was made on Friday, January 24, 2026, as India prepare for a challenging tour Down Under.
The Test match will be the final leg of India’s Australia tour, which begins in mid-February and includes six white-ball matches—three T20Is followed by three ODIs. The tour opener is set for Sunday, February 15, 2026, in Sydney, making the red-ball clash a crucial end to a long and demanding series.
Harmanpreet Kaur to Lead, Mandhana Named Vice-Captain
Experienced all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the side in the longest format, with senior batter Smriti Mandhana named as her deputy. India’s batting unit looks solid, featuring Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Harleen Deol, while the middle order gets added depth through Amanjot Kaur and Pratika Rawal.
Like to know? Top 10 Hottest Women Cricketers in the World
Behind the stumps, India have gone with a dual wicket-keeper option—Richa Ghosh and Uma Chetry. Uma has been included after Gunalan Kamalini was ruled out of the tour, with the selectors opting for a like-for-like replacement across all formats.
Bowling Attack Packed with Experience and Variety
India’s bowling lineup combines experience with fresh pace. Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana strengthen the spin department, while the fast-bowling unit is led by Renuka Thakur, supported by Sayali Satghare, Kranti Gaud, and Vaishnavi Sharma. The mix gives India flexibility on the traditionally bouncy WACA surface.
Read more: Top 10 Most Beautiful Cricket Stadium in the World (2026)
India come into the Test with strong recent red-ball results. They registered a 10-wicket victory against South Africa in Chennai in mid-2024, and their last Test against Australia ended in an eight-wicket win at Wankhede in December 2023, boosting confidence ahead of this high-profile clash.
India Women’s Test Squad vs Australia
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Harmanpreet Kaur |
| Vice-Captain | Smriti Mandhana |
| Batters | Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol |
| All-Rounders | Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana |
| Wicket-Keepers | Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry |
| Bowlers | Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare |
With a confident leadership group, proven match-winners, and recent success in Test cricket, India will be aiming to continue their strong red-ball momentum against Australia in Perth.
