Amanjot Kaur Ruled Out for 5 Months; India Shuffles Squad Ahead of T20 World Cup

India Women’s national cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed that seam-bowling all-rounder Amanjot Kaur will miss the next four to five months due to a back injury. The setback creates a roster imbalance for India as they prepare for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup and the international series against England.

Amanjot previously missed the recent T20 International (T20I) series against South Africa. Her prolonged absence forces the team management to test new combinations to replace her utility in the middle order and pace department.

Injury Updates and Squad Adjustments

The Indian team is currently managing two major medical setbacks:

• Amanjot Kaur: Sidelined with a back injury, leaving a void in the seam-bowling all-rounder role.
• Kashvee Gautam: Scheduled for knee surgery, further depleting the pace reserves ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) global tournament.

“Amanjot was our key player. Unfortunately, she is not available,” Harmanpreet stated during her press address. “In place of her, it was very difficult to find someone like her who can fulfill that place.”

To compensate for the loss, selectors recalled Radha Yadav and retained Bharti Fulmali. Radha returns to the T20I setup following strong performances in domestic tournaments. As an experienced left-arm spinner, her inclusion provides India with an option who contributes with both bat and ball, according to statistics from ESPN Cricinfo. Bharti retains her roster spot after receiving limited playing time during the South Africa tour.

Defending the Bowling Attack

Harmanpreet defended the Indian bowling unit following criticism over a suboptimal showing against South Africa. She emphasized that a single series does not reflect the overall capability of the bowlers.

“This was the only series where our bowling didn’t click much. In one series, I can’t judge my players,” she explained. The captain noted that the upcoming training camp and matches against England will help the squad regain momentum.

Harmanpreet also credited players like uncapped pacer Nandini Sharma for earning their call-ups through consistent performances in domestic cricket and the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

India Women’s T20 Squad Roster

The current squad features a mix of veteran leadership and emerging domestic talent, vetted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).