Experienced Raj to lead India in World Cup campaign

MUMBAI, India,  CMC – Stroke-maker Mithali Raj has been named to lead India in the Women’s World Cup which bowls off here later this month.

The 30-year-old is an experienced campaigner with 141 One-Day Internationals behind her, and also led India at the recent Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka when the team lost all their preliminary round matches.

She leads a 15-member squad that includes the seasoned new-ball pair of Jhulan Goswami and Amit Sharma, along with talented batsman Harmanpreet Kaur.

India will open their World Cup campaign against West Indies on January 31 at the Wankhede Stadium.

They will do battle in Group A alongside England and Sri Lanka, for the tournament which runs until February 17.

SQUAD – Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Jhulan Goswami, Amita Sharma, Gouhar Sultana, M. Thirushkamini, Sulakshana Naik, Ekta Bist, Mona Meshram, Rasanara Parwin, Niranjana Nagarajan, Punam Raut, Reema Malhotra, Karuna Jain, Shubhalaxmi Sharma.