Walk into St George’s Park on a December morning and the first thing that hits you is the salty chill rolling in off the coast. Long before the first ball gets bowled in Gqeberha, you can feel how big this tour is going to be. India’s women are landing in South Africa with one captain steering the entire ship across the Test, ODI and T20I matches, Smriti Mandhana. That choice gives the squad a single voice for three heavy weeks of cricket, covering one Test match, three ODIs, and three T20Is.
Smriti Mandhana’s South Africa Tour Role Changes the Picture
Handing Smriti Mandhana the captaincy for all three formats simplifies everything in the dugout. Instead of alternating captains for the white-ball and red-ball games, the team remains consistent since day one. The team gets Deepti Sharma as its vice-captain for both the Test game and the ODI series.
That combination gives India a strong mix of cool tactical thinking and aggressive top-order energy.
Why This South Africa Tour Matters for India Women
A Second Visit After a Tough April Series
Back in April, India visited South Africa right before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 and ran into a wall, losing the T20I series 1-4. Returning to those same venues eight months later gives this group a clean shot at settling the score. This was not through big talk, but by showing how much their middle order has matured.
Jemimah Rodrigues Returns at the Right Time
The biggest boost in the lineup comes with Jemimah Rodrigues walking back into the dressing room. After hurting her hamstring during The Hundred in August, she sat out both the Asia Cup and the Asian Games. Having her back at number three or four gives the whole batting order a sense of calm. Amanjot Kaur also returns to action, adding extra hitting power to the T20I setup.
India Squad List for the South Africa Tour
Test Squad: 15 Players, Mandhana in Charge
The selectors picked a balanced 15-member group for the single red-ball match in Gqeberha.
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Smriti Mandhana |
| Vice-captain | Deepti Sharma |
| Batters | Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol |
| Wicketkeepers | Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia |
| All-rounders & Bowlers | Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare |
ODI Squad: Vaishnavi Sharma Replaces Sneh Rana
- Vaishnavi Sharma comes into the ODI setup, taking the spot previously held by Sneh Rana.
- Beyond that single spin change, the engine of the squad remains identical to the Test group.
- Deepti Sharma continues as vice-captain right alongside Mandhana.
T20I Squad: Young Names Earn a Place
- Young talents Niki Prasad, G. Kamalini, and Anushka Sharma have earned call-ups to the 17-player T20I squad.
- The team has Shafali Verma as its vice-captain for the fast-paced 20-over game.
- Renuka Singh Thakur and Arundhati Reddy will be playing important roles in the seam attack with their experience.
- Amanjot Kaur returns for the team in this particular selection to strengthen the finishing options in the lower order.
Full South Africa Tour Schedule
Test Match in Gqeberha
- Only Test: December 9–12, Gqeberha
ODI Series Across Three Venues
- First ODI: December 16, Paarl
- Second ODI: December 19, Cape Town
- Third ODI: December 22, Bloemfontein
T20I Series Begins in Benoni
- First T20I: December 26, Benoni
- Second T20I: December 29, Potchefstroom
- Third T20I: December 30, Potchefstroom
Players to Watch on the South Africa Tour
Richa Ghosh Behind the Stumps
Richa Ghosh will wear the gloves as the first-choice wicketkeeper in all three formats. Yastika Bhatia will serve as the backup wicketkeeper in the Test and ODI matches while young G. Kamalini is the second-choice keeper in the T20Is.
Bowling Choices That Could Shape the Series
Right-arm pacer Jintimani Kalita keeps her place in the Test and ODI squads after her debut against Zimbabwe, while Shreyanka Patil sits out this trip. Nandni Sharma achieved the rare feat of making all three squads. On the other hand, speedster Renuka Singh Thakur will focus entirely on the T20I series.
What Fans Will Watch for in December
Having Mandhana lead in every format gives India clear direction, but watching young debuts mixed with returning stars is what will keep fans glued to their screens. You can follow ball-by-ball updates, squad statistics, and daily match breakdowns right here on Cricstrike throughout December.
