BCCI Names Anushka Sharma and Minnu Mani Captains for 7-Match England A Series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India threw open the gates for the country's next wave of talent. On Friday, the board named three distinct India A squads for an all-format home showdown against England A spanning three T20s, three One-Day games, and a red-ball multi-day fixture.

Anushka Sharma takes the wheel for the white-ball leg as captain, backed by all-rounder Minnu Mani as vice-captain. But the dynamic flips when the red ball comes out. Mani will take full command of the multi-day squad, with middle-order bat Tejal Hasabnis stepping in as her deputy.

The seven-fixture tour offers an immediate audition. Emerging domestic performers will square off against seasoned international-grade touring talent across two premier venues in Maharashtra.

Split Captaincy Across Formats

Sharma’s limited-overs sides blend explosive youth with players who have already tasted senior women's domestic pressure. In the T20 group, power-hitter Vrinda Dinesh joins Sanika Chalke, Tanisha Singh, and Niki Prasad. Wicketkeeping gloves will be split between G Kamalini and Shipra Giri across both short formats.

The bowling attack for the 20-over clashes packs serious pace and spin depth. Shreyanka Patil, Kashvee Gautam, and Amanjot Kaur lead the charge, flanked by left-arm seamer Monica Patel, Saima Thakor, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Prema Rawat.

For the 50-over matches, selectors tweaked the batting core. Priya Punia and Tejal Hasabnis walk into the middle order, while young seam options Shabnam Shakil, Amisha Bahukandi, and Akshita Bhagat slot into the pace department alongside Thakor and Gautam.

Mani Takes the Red-Ball Reins

When the series pivots to the multi-day contest at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Mani steps into the primary leadership seat. The long-format squad brings in specialist red-ball anchors. Shubha Satheesh and Purvaja Verlekar join Punia and Hasabnis to construct the batting spine, alongside Henreitta Perera.

Uma Chetry enters the red-ball frame alongside Giri to shoulder wicketkeeping duties, giving the team sharp work behind the stumps for extended innings.

The bowling department for the four-day battle leans heavily on stamina and seam discipline. Happy Kumari breaks into the setup alongside Shakil, Bhagat, Bahukandi, Thakor, and off-spinner Patil, handing Mani varied options to grind through England A’s top order.

Action gets underway at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on November 30 with an afternoon start at 1:00 PM IST.