MUMBAI: In a significant boost to her career, Delhi Capitals pacer Nandani Sharma earned her first India call-up for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England, with the BCCI naming a 15-member squad on Saturday.
The 24-year-old has also been chosen for the historic one-off test at Lord’s starting on July 10, immediately after the tournament.
The boundless seamer from Chandigarh forced her way into contention with a standout debut season in the WPL, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps in 10 games for runners-up Delhi Capitals. Her campaign, highlighted by a hat-trick in just her second game, highlighted her as one of the season’s breakout stars.
The team also sees the return of wicketkeeper-batsman Yastika Bhatia and left-arm bowler Radha Yadav, while Anushka Sharma and Uma Chetry are missing. Injuries ruled out promising all-rounders Amanjot Kaur (back) and Kashvee Gautam (knee), opening the door for Radha’s retirement and strengthening India’s spin depth alongside Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani.
Explaining the omissions, chief selector Amita Sharma said Kashvee would undergo surgery, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed that Amanjot could be sidelined for up to five months.
Yastika, who is returning after an ACL surgery that ruled her out of the 2025 ODI World Cup, last played a T20I in April 2024. Her return adds experience to the lower-middle-order and wicket-keeping pack led by Richa Ghosh.
Radha, who featured in 89 T20Is and took 103 wickets, returns in time for his fifth T20 World Cup, bringing experience and control to India’s bowling attack.
India will open their campaign against Pakistan on June 14 in Birmingham and are placed in a challenging Group A alongside Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The team will gather for a pre-tournament camp at the BCCI Center of Excellence starting May 10 before traveling to England for a three-match T20I series, which will serve as a warm-up.
Harmanpreet, who will be participating in his 10th T20 World Cup and leading India for the fifth time, will aim to end India’s wait for a maiden T20 World Cup title after their 50over World Cup triumph.
T20 World Cup Team: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Bharti Fulmali, Yastika Bhatia, Nandni Sharma, Radha Yadav
Team for the single test: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana.