India's women's cricket team will welcome back Jemimah Rodrigues for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa after the batter recovered from a hamstring injury. Her return strengthens India's batting options ahead of a demanding tour featuring one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is.
Rodrigues has been out of action since sustaining a hamstring tear during The Women's Hundred in August. The injury forced her to miss several important assignments, including the Women's Asia Cup, Asian Games and India's white-ball series against Zimbabwe. Her inclusion in both the ODI and T20I squads is an important boost for India as they prepare for the South African challenge.
Jemimah Rodrigues Included in All Three Squads
An important detail in India's selection announcement is that Rodrigues has not just been picked for the limited-overs matches. She has also earned a place in the 15-member Test squad, meaning she is part of India's plans across all three formats.
The squads will be led by Smriti Mandhana, who has been named captain for the Test, ODI and T20I teams. This also marks Mandhana's first assignment as India's Test captain.
Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh are among the other prominent names included across the squads. Deepti will serve as vice-captain in the Test and ODI teams, while Shafali will be Mandhana's deputy in T20Is.
What Happened During Jemimah Rodrigues' Injury Layoff?
Rodrigues suffered a serious right hamstring injury on August 3 while representing Southern Brave in The Hundred. Doctors diagnosed it as a high-grade tear, requiring an extended rehabilitation period.
Her absence meant missing several important international competitions and assignments. These included the Women's T20 Asia Cup, the Asian Games and India's home white-ball series against Zimbabwe.
On October 31, Rodrigues shared an encouraging update on her recovery, confirming that her hamstring had been declared fit after three months of rehabilitation.
Her return is particularly important for India's middle order. She has been a valuable contributor in T20I cricket, with 2,824 runs at a strike rate of 119, making her one of India's leading run-scorers in the format.
Getting her back into the squad gives India another experienced batting option ahead of a challenging overseas assignment.
Other Important Changes in India's South Africa Squads
Image Source: Twitter
Rodrigues is not the only player whose inclusion deserves attention.
Pratika Rawal has returned to the Test squad after missing India's previous one-off Test against England at Lord's because of a knee injury.
Another notable inclusion is Jintimani Kalita, a 22-year-old right-arm pacer from Assam. She has earned her maiden Test squad selection after making her ODI debut during India's recent series against Zimbabwe.
The T20I squad also features three notable additions from the Zimbabwe series: Amanjot Kaur, Renuka Singh Thakur and Sayali Satghare.
Meanwhile, Kalita and Minnu Mani are not in the T20I squad. Rodrigues' return to the ODI team has also meant that Tejal Hasabnis misses out.
India Women's Tour of South Africa 2026: Full Schedule
India's multi-format tour will begin with a one-off Test in Gqeberha on December 9. The teams will then move to the limited-overs leg, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is.
Here is the complete schedule:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| December 9 | Only Test | Gqeberha |
| December 16 | 1st ODI | Paarl |
| December 19 | 2nd ODI | Cape Town |
| December 22 | 3rd ODI | Bloemfontein |
| December 26 | 1st T20I | Benoni |
| December 29 | 2nd T20I | Potchefstroom |
| December 30 | 3rd T20I | Potchefstroom |
For Rodrigues, the South Africa tour represents an opportunity to return to international cricket after an extended spell on the sidelines. With selection in all three formats, she will be an important player to watch as India begins its next overseas assignment under Mandhana's leadership.
FAQ
1. Is Jemimah Rodrigues selected for India's South Africa tour?
Yes. Jemimah Rodrigues has been selected in India's Test, ODI and T20I squads for the December 2026 tour of South Africa.
2. Why did Jemimah Rodrigues miss India's previous matches?
She suffered a high-grade right hamstring tear while playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred on August 3, 2026. The injury kept her out of several tournaments and India's series against Zimbabwe.
3. Who will captain India on the South Africa tour?
Smriti Mandhana will captain India across all three formats. Deepti Sharma is the vice-captain for Tests and ODIs, while Shafali Verma is the T20I vice-captain.
4. When will India play their first ODI against South Africa?
The first ODI is scheduled for December 16, 2026, in Paarl.
Also Read: Clicky Ponting Cricketer Brian Devine Gets Two-Year Ban
