Uncapped Anushka Sharma Earns Maiden India Call-Up Ahead of South Africa T20 Series

Anushka Sharma has earned her maiden call-up to the Indian women’s cricket team for the five-match T20I series against South Africa , starting April 17 in Durban, Johannesburg, and Benoni . The 22-year-old impressed in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 , where she was signed by Gujarat Giants for ₹45 lakh and made an instant impact with the bat. She scored a 44-run innings off 30 balls in a key match against UP Warriors and had other notable contributions, highlighting her potential as a middle-order all-rounder.

Sharma also had strong performances in domestic cricket. She struck an 80-run knock off 58 balls in the Senior Women’s Interzonal Trophy for Central Zone and scored consistently in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy , amassing over 200 runs for Madhya Pradesh. Her form in these tournaments, combined with her WPL exploits, earned her the attention of national selectors.

Her inclusion comes as India makes changes to its T20 squad ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UK . Players from the recent series win over Australia, including Vaishnavi Sharma, Sneha Rana, and Amanjot Kaur , have not been included, effectively opening the spot for Sharma. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur , with experienced players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh in the line-up. Pacer Kashvee Gautam , who has represented India in Tests and ODIs, also returns to strengthen the squad.

The selection of Anushka Sharma , blending youth and promise with the experience of senior players, reflects India’s approach to preparing for major tournaments while giving opportunities to rising talents. The series in South Africa will be an important platform for the team to fine-tune combinations and assess players ahead of the T20 World Cup .

India T20 Squad:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Uma Chetry (WK), Anushka Sharma.