Jemimah Rodrigues Returns as India Name South Africa Tour Squads; Shreyanka Left Out of T20Is

Key points

1. The BCCI announced India's squads on November 9, 2026, for a December tour of South Africa featuring one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is.
2. Jemimah Rodrigues has been selected in all three squads after recovering from the hamstring injury she sustained while playing in The Hundred in England on August 3, 2026.
3. Smriti Mandhana will captain India across all three formats; Deepti Sharma is vice-captain in Tests and ODIs, while Shafali Verma is T20I vice-captain.
4. Shreyanka Patil is not part of India's 17-member T20I squad for the South Africa tour.
5. Amanjot Kaur returns to the T20I squad, while Renuka Singh Thakur is also included after missing the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe.
6. India's tour begins with a Test in Gqeberha on December 9, followed by three ODIs and three T20Is, with the final T20I scheduled for December 30 in Potchefstroom.

Jemimah Rodrigues has returned to India's national squads after an injury layoff, while Shreyanka Patil has been left out of the T20I group for the women's all-format tour of South Africa in December 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the squads on November 9, naming Smriti Mandhana captain across the Test, ODI and T20I formats.

India's tour comprises one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. Rodrigues has been selected in all three squads after recovering from the hamstring injury she suffered while playing in England's The Hundred in August. The selection also sees Amanjot Kaur return to the T20I group, while Shreyanka is absent from the 17-member squad for the shortest format.

Rodrigues returns across all three formats

Rodrigues' return is a significant inclusion for India ahead of a demanding overseas assignment. The batter sustained a right hamstring injury on August 3 while playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred. The BCCI subsequently confirmed that medical assessment at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru had identified a high-grade tear, ruling her out of the Women's Asia Cup and Asian Games.

She has now been named in the Test, ODI and T20I squads for South Africa. Her inclusion gives the selectors another established batting option across formats as India prepare for a tour that will test the squad in different match conditions. The selection announcement confirms her return to the national group; match readiness and her role in each playing XI will be determined closer to the fixtures.

Rodrigues' absence had extended through the injury period and India's recent assignments. Her return is therefore one of the headline developments in the squad announcement, particularly with the team set to play across all three formats in South Africa.

Shreyanka omitted from the T20I squad

Shreyanka Patil does not feature in the 17-member T20I squad named for the South Africa series. The BCCI's official announcement lists the selected players but does not provide a detailed explanation for individual omissions. The decision is therefore best described as a selection omission rather than attributing it to a specific injury or performance reason.

India have selected a varied group of spin options for the T20Is, including Deepti Sharma, Sree Charani and Prema Rawat. The squad also includes all-round options and a group of pace bowlers for the three-match series. Shreyanka's absence is a notable change from previous India T20I combinations, but the official release does not identify the selectors' reasoning.

Amanjot Kaur returns to the T20I squad, while Renuka Singh Thakur is also included after missing the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe. Sayali Satghare has been named in all three squads, and Nandni Sharma and Kranti Gaud are also part of the Test, ODI and T20I groups.

Mandhana takes charge across formats

Smriti Mandhana will lead India in all three formats during the South Africa tour. Deepti Sharma has been appointed vice-captain for the Test and ODI teams, while Shafali Verma will be deputy to Mandhana in T20Is. The structure gives the team a consistent captain across the tour while assigning format-specific vice-captaincy responsibilities.

The Test squad includes 15 players, with Sneh Rana and Yastika Bhatia among the names selected for the longer format. The 15-member ODI squad features Vaishnavi Sharma, while the T20I group expands to 17 players and includes Niki Prasad, G. Kamalini and Anushka Sharma. The squads share a substantial core but reflect different combinations for each format.

The tour will also provide a further opportunity for India's younger players to work alongside experienced internationals in overseas conditions. Jintimani Kalita, who recently made her ODI debut, has been selected for the Test and ODI squads, while Sayali Satghare has been included across formats.

India's South Africa tour schedule

The tour begins with a one-off Test in Gqeberha on December 9. The ODI series follows, with the first match in Paarl on December 16, the second in Cape Town on December 19 and the third in Bloemfontein on December 22.

The T20I series starts in Benoni on December 26. The final two matches will be played in Potchefstroom on December 29 and 30, giving India a short turnaround between the last two fixtures. The schedule gives the squad a compact finish to the tour across the festive period.

For India, the assignment is an opportunity to build combinations and assess players across formats away from home. Rodrigues' return adds batting depth, while the T20I selection changes underline the competition for places in a squad that includes several spin and pace options.

Selection picture ahead of December

The main talking points from the announcement are Rodrigues' comeback, Mandhana's leadership across formats and Shreyanka's absence from the T20I squad. The return of Amanjot and Renuka adds further options to the shortest-format group. With the BCCI release providing squad lists rather than detailed selection explanations, the reasons behind individual omissions should not be assumed.

India will now turn their attention to preparations for the South Africa tour, which opens in Gqeberha on December 9. Rodrigues will aim to make a successful return to international cricket, while the selected T20I group will have the opportunity to establish its balance over three matches against the Proteas.