Women's T20 Challenge: Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami AXED as BCCI names squads - Harmanpreet, Mandhana and Deepti to lead

Women’s T20 Challenge LIVE: Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, India’s longest serving cricketers, have been axed from the squads for the upcoming Women’s T20 challenge set to be played next week. The Indian veterans, who have long retired from the shortest format of the game did participate in the last edition back in 2019, but will miss out with Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana leading the sides. Follow Women’s T20 challenge, IPL 2022 live updates on Insidesport.in

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Women’s T20 Challenge: Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami AXED as BCCI names squads – Harmanpreet, Mandhana and Deepti to lead – Check out

Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami had featured in the 2020 edition of the tournament despite having previously retired from T20Is but were axed from the squads released on Monday.

Shikha Pandey, who played for Velocity in that competition, was left out of India’s home assignment against South Africa in March, 2021 and subsequently missed the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year.

Hard-hitting batter Veda Krishnamurthy is another absentee from the squads, with the teams going in a new direction that sees the inclusion of Kiran Navgire who turned heads with an unbeaten 162* while playing for Nagaland in the Domestic T20 competition.

Women’s T20 Challenge: Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami AXED as BCCI names squads – Harmanpreet, Mandhana and Deepti to lead – Check out

Star Indian players Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma were on Monday named captains of the three teams for the Women’s T20 Challenge to be played in Pune from May 23.

The BCCI announced 16-member squads for each of three teams — Harmanpreet-led Supernovas, Mandhana-led Trailblazers and Deepti-led Velocity.

Trailblazers had won the previous edition held in 2020.

A total of 12 overseas players were also announced for the exhibition event including star South African opener Laura Wolvaardt and world number one bowler Sophie Ecclestone. Thai player Natthakan Chantam will make her second appearance in the competition.

The only Australian featuring in the line-ups is leg spinner Alana King while the English cricketers include Ecclestone, Sophia Dunkley and Kate Cross.

Bangladesh cricketers Salma Khatun and Sharmin Akhter have also been picked. The West Indians include Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews.

South African captain Sune Luus and Wolvaardt will represent Supernovas and Velocity respectively.

The performers in the recently held Senior Women’s T20 Trophy have also been rewarded. The tournament’s leading run getter K P Navgire and leading wickettaker Aarti Kedar will play for Velocity.

The upcoming edition is expected to be the last one with BCCI planning a full fledged Women’s IPL from next year.

Women’s T20 Challenge: Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami AXED as BCCI names squads – Harmanpreet, Mandhana and Deepti to lead – Check out

Squads –

Velocity: Deepti Sharma (c), Sneh Rana, Shafali Verma, Ayabonga Khaka, KP Navgire, Kathryn Cross, Keerthi James, Laura Wolvaardt, Maya Sonawane, Natthakan Chantam, Radha Yadav, Aarti Kedar, Shivali Shinde, Simran Bahadur, Yastika Bhatia, Pranavi Chandra

Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana (c), Poonam Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Hayley Matthews, Jemimah Rodrigues, Priyanka Priyadarshini, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, S Meghana, Saiqa Ishaque, Salma Khatun, Sharmin Akhter, Sophia Brown, Sujata Mallik, SB Pokharkar.

Supernovas: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Taniya Bhatia, Alana King, Ayushi Soni, Chandu V, Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Meghna Singh, Monica Patel, Muskan Malik, Pooja Vastrakar, Priya Punia, Rashi Kanojia, Sophie Ecclestone, Sune Luus, Mansi Joshi

Women’s T20 Challenge: Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami AXED as BCCI names squads – Harmanpreet, Mandhana and Deepti to lead – Check out

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