Smriti Mandhana is missing the first ODI of the three-match series between India and Australia, being played on December 28.
Fans were in for a surprise when India announced their first ODI squad for the 2023-24 series against Australia to be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored an impressive 74 and 38 runs in India’s first win over Australia in Test cricket last week, was not part of the team.
An official commentator revealed that Mandana was “not feeling well.” In a tweet, the BCCI confirmed that she is “not eligible for selection” due to “unwellness”.
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𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: #TeamIndia Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is unwell and absent The first #INDvAUS is available for ODI match selection. @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ syVIXpUfIe
– BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) 2 2023 April 12
India brought Amanjot Kaur into the eleven and handed Saika Ishak his maiden ODI cap after impressing on his T20I debut against England. Ahead of Richa Ghosh, India’s designated wicketkeeper Yashtika Bhatia started with the bat alongside Shafali Verma in Mandhana’s absence.
Australia has a 40-10 lead against India in ODIs, but Mandhana is one of the few batsmen who has had success against India. Among the Indians who have scored more runs against Australia, no one has an ODI strike rate comparable to Mandhana’s 96, but only Harmanpreet has an average higher than her 39.18.・Only the cowl (51.18). It is almost certain that she will be absent here and there is no update yet on her participation in the 2nd ODI.
At the time of writing, India are 36-1 after 7 overs with their batsmen selected. They lost Verma to Darcy Brown.
India 11th: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Yastika Bhatia (week), Shafali Verma, Jemima Rodriguez, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Sune Rana , Renuka Singh Thakur, Saika Ishak
11 Australians: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Elise Perry, Ash Gardner, Beth Mooney, Talia McGrath, Megan Schutt, Annabelle・Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Darcey Brown
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