Shafali Verma named India U-19 captain for World Cup next year

18-year-old Shafali Verma was named as the captain of the Indian women's team for the ICC U-19 World Cup in South Africa.

Shafali will lead the 15-member Indian squad in the inaugural edition of the women's U-19 World Cup, scheduled to start on January 14 next year.

Hard-hitting opening batter Shafali will also lead India Under-19s against the South Africa Under-19s in 5 T20 games from December 27 to January 4 in Pretoria. These 5 games will be very crucial as far as preparations for the Under-19 World Cup are concerned.

Shafali has played two Tests, 21 ODIs and 46 T20Is after making her debut in the senior national team in 2019.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh is the other senior India player picked in the under-19 World Cup squad.

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India Under-19 World Cup squad: Shafali Verma (capt), Shweta Sehrawat (vice-capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), G Trisha, Soumya Tiwari, Sonia Mendhiya, Hurley Gala, Hrishita Basu (wk), Sonam Yadav, Mannat Kashyap, Archana Devi, Parshavi Chopra, Titas Sadhu, Falak Naz, Shabnam MD.

Standby players: Shikha Shalot, Najla CMC, Yashashri