Smriti Mandhana replaces Harmanpreet Kaur as India Women's skipper

India Women skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is not part of the 1st ODI match against New Zealand Women. In her absence, vice-captain and opener Smriti Mandhana is leading the series in the match.

India Women vs New Zealand Women 1st ODI takes place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. During the New Zealand Women's Tour of India 2024, both sides will play a total of three ODI games. The tour comprises only the ODI series.

Harmanpreet Kaur dropped from the playing 11 due to niggle

Notably, Harmanpreet Kaur has been rested from the playing 11 of IND W vs NZ W 1st ODI due to a niggle. BCCI Women informed about the same with a tweet on X. Have a look at the tweet below.

Note - Ms Harmanpreet Kaur has a niggle and has been rested for the 1st ODI. Smriti Mandhana will be leading the side in her absence.#INDvNZ @IDFCFIRSTBank

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 24, 2024

Batters like Yastika Bhatia and Dayalan Hemlatha have been added to the top order in the absence of Kaur. Mandhana revealed the full squad during the toss. Below is the complete playing 11 of India Women for the 1st ODI against New Zealand.

India Women playing 11 for 1st ODI: Smriti Mandhana(c), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia(w), Dayalan Hemalatha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Saima Thakor, Renuka Thakur Singh.

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Harmanpreet Kaur faced backlash for India Women's poor show in ICC Women's T20 WC 2024

Notably, Harmanpreet Kaur faced backlash for India Women's poor show in ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 recently. India Women failed to reach the semi-finals in the tournament under skipper Kaur.

India Women was part of Group A with teams like Australia Women, New Zealand Women, Pakistan Women, and Sri Lanka Women in their pool. Since the tournament took place in the spin-friendly venue UAE and India Women comprised strong spinners in their squad; they were expected to dominate in the league.

On the contrary, they failed to leapfrog the Group stage after losing to New Zealand in the first match and Australia Women in the last game. Both these teams qualified for semis from Group A. India Women failed to win the do-or-die clash against Australia Women in a close-fought encounter.

Also Read: IND vs AUS: David Warner torn apart after comeback remark for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

New Zealand Women won ICC Women's T20I WC 2024

Meanwhile, New Zealand Women was the team to displace India Women from the semis and they eventually won the final to lift ICC Women's T20I World Cup 2024. They crushed South Africa Women in the final by 32 runs to clinch the title for the first time in history.

Meanwhile, India Women take on T20 World Champion New Zealand Women at home in the ongoing ODI series. It will be interesting to watch how Smriti Mandhana handles the side in the opening ODI game in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur.