Smriti Mandhana named India Test captain as BCCI unveils squads for South Africa tour

Smriti Mandhana will lead India as Test captain on the team's all-format tour of South Africa after the BCCI named squads for the December 9–30 tour, the board announced on Monday. The tour schedule includes one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is.

Mandhana assumes the Test captaincy for the first time since taking over the reins from Harmanpreet Kaur, according to the BCCI release. Deepti Sharma has been named vice-captain for the Test and ODI formats, while Shafali Verma will serve as vice-captain in the T20I squad. Jemimah Rodrigues was recalled after missing the Asia Cup, Asian Games and the Zimbabwe series with injury, and Jintimani Kalita received her first Test call-up.

The Test squad named by the board is: Smriti Mandhana [C], Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh [WK], Yastika Bhatia [WK], Deepti Sharma [VC], Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare.

India's ODI squad is: Smriti Mandhana [C], Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh [WK], Yastika Bhatia [WK], Deepti Sharma [VC], Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare.

The T20I squad announced is: Smriti Mandhana [C], Shafali Verma [VC], Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Niki Prasad, Richa Ghosh [WK], G. Kamalini [WK], Anushka Sharma, Deepti Sharma, Sree Charani, Prema Rawat, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare.

Mandhana began her captaincy tenure with dominant wins over Zimbabwe in both the T20I and ODI series at home, and the BCCI statement said she will be aiming to continue that momentum into the women's Champions Trophy in January.

India will play one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is on the South Africa tour scheduled from December 9 to December 30.