Afternoon light across the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune carries a sharp winter crispness in late November. Before the first ball gets bowled on November 30, India A already have a clear leadership blueprint: two captains across three formats. Anushka Sharma takes charge of the T20 and One-Day squads, while Minnu Mani leads the concluding Multi-Day contest.
Across seven matches in Pune and Mumbai, the India A Women vs England A Women Series gives emerging contenders a direct stage to press for senior selection.
What Is the India A Women vs England A Women Series?
India A Women vs England A Women Series is a seven-match home bilateral cricket tour for all formats which will take place between November 30 and December 22, 2026. This cricket series will be played in Pune and Mumbai with three matches each of T20 and One Day format, along with a four-day multi-day match.
Full India A Squads for the England A Series
Selectors named three separate 15-member squads on November 11, balancing senior fringe regulars with domestic standouts.
T20 Squad (15 Players)
- Batters: Vrinda Dinesh, Tanisha Singh, Sanika Chalke, Anushka Sharma (C), Niki Prasad
- Wicketkeepers: G Kamalini (WK), Shipra Giri (WK)
- All-rounders & Bowlers: Minnu Mani (VC), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Vaishnavi Sharma, Prema Rawat, Saima Thakor, Monica Patel, Kashvee Gautam
One-Day Squad (15 Players)
- Batters: Vrinda Dinesh, Tanisha Singh, Priya Punia, Anushka Sharma (C), Niki Prasad, Tejal Hasabnis
- Wicketkeepers: G Kamalini (WK), Shipra Giri (WK)
- All-rounders & Bowlers: Minnu Mani (VC), Shreyanka Patil, Amisha Bahukandi, Shabnam Shakil, Saima Thakor, Akshita Bhagat, Kashvee Gautam
Multi-Day Squad (15 Players)
- Batters: Shubha Satheesh, Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Purvaja Verlekar, Henreitta Perera, Tejal Hasabnis (VC)
- Wicketkeepers: Shipra Giri (WK), Uma Chetry (WK)
- All-rounders & Bowlers: Minnu Mani (C), Shreyanka Patil, Saima Thakor, Akshita Bhagat, Amisha Bahukandi, Happy Kumari, Shabnam Shakil
Series Schedule — Dates, Venues and Start Times
| Match | Date | Venue | Start (IST) |
| 1st T20 | Nov 30 | MCA Stadium, Pune | 1:00 PM |
| 2nd T20 | Dec 3 | MCA Stadium, Pune | 6:00 PM |
| 3rd T20 | Dec 5 | MCA Stadium, Pune | 6:00 PM |
| 1st One-Day | Dec 8 | Wankhede, Mumbai | 9:00 AM |
| 2nd One-Day | Dec 11 | Wankhede, Mumbai | 2:00 PM |
| 3rd One-Day | Dec 14 | Wankhede, Mumbai | 2:00 PM |
| Multi-Day | Dec 19 | Wankhede, Mumbai | 9:30 AM |
The Captaincy Split, Explained
Splitting leadership duties reflects how selectors view format demands. Anushka Sharma steps into the white-ball captaincy after earning a maiden senior T20I call-up for the South Africa tour, where pacing fast chases matters most.
Conversely, Kerala off-spinning all-rounder Minnu Mani—who already holds senior international caps—takes the red-ball armband after deputising in both limited-overs legs. Tejal Hasabnis steps in as Multi-Day vice-captain, bringing middle-order composure to the four-day contest. Rather than overloading one leader across 23 days, the panel divided tactical workloads cleanly.
Three Debates Before the First Ball in Pune
- Shreyanka Patil’s comeback route: Left out of the senior South Africa tour, Shreyanka Patil appears across all three India A squads. Fresh off back-to-back domestic five-wicket hauls, fans remain split on whether this assignment marks a stepping stone back or a quiet sideways nudge.
- Priya Punia’s A-team recall: Experienced opener Priya Punia returns in One-Day and Multi-Day colours. Meanwhile, selectors left her out of the T20 group, signalling exactly where they see her senior utility.
- The three-keeper squeeze: Shipra Giri makes all three squads, yet G Kamalini joins the white-ball legs and Uma Chetry enters the Multi-Day group. With WPL scouts watching closely, balancing glovework minutes will test team management.
Why December Matters for These Names
India A tours rarely grab prime-time headlines, yet nearly every senior breakthrough over the past decade passed through these dressing rooms first. Perform across Pune’s true bounce and Wankhede’s red-soil carry, and senior selection doors open quickly. Readers on Cricstrike can track squad updates and match reports throughout the home series as India’s next wave steps forward.
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