After the India team lost the three-match ODI series 0-3 against the Aussies, they faced another setback with key pacer Renuka Thakur getting ruled out for the one-off AUSW vs INDW pink-ball Test, starting March 6. Thakur, who previously played in both India’s T20I and ODI squads for the ongoing multi-format series against Australia, claimed four wickets in the short-format leg but managed only one wicket in the two ODIs she played.
The news of Renuka’s absence was confirmed by an official statement by the BCCI. It is understood that she has been rested due to fitness concerns and her workload is being managed. Young pacer Kashvee Gautam has been named as replacement in the side.
The BCCI statement read, “Team India pacer Renuka Thakur has been ruled out of the Only-Test at the WACA Ground in Perth, which is part of the ongoing multi-format series against Australia Women. To better manage her workload, Renuka has been advised rest and will be unavailable for selection for the pink-ball Test. The BCCI Medical Team will be closely monitoring Renuka’s fitness progress. The Women’s Selection Committee has named Kashvee Gautam as her replacement. Kashvee was also part of the ODI squad in the ongoing multi-format series.”
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Renuka’s absence from the upcoming Test leaves India with a significant lack of experience in the pace bowling department, as Kashvee and the other seamers in the squad—Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, and Amanjot Kaur are yet to make their Test debuts.
Kashvee, on the other hand, has so far on the tour played in all three ODIs, picking up three wickets at an average of 54 and contributing 68 useful runs in the lower order.
While India lost the ODI leg, they earlier won the three-match T20I series 2-1. With the scoreline currently favouring Australia 8-4, India must win the Test to level the contest.
Explaining the multi-format points system, a win in T20I and ODI games gives two points while a win in Test is four points and a draw is two points.
India’s updated Test squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare.
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