Priya Punia Named to India’s Test Squad vs England

The women’s selection committee has handed Priya Punia her maiden Test call‑up after opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the one‑off Test against England at Lord’s. Rawal’s knee injury, a cut that required stitches, came while playing for India A in Taunton and forced her to miss the match slated to begin on Friday. Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed the replacement, stating that Punia will fill Rawal’s spot in the squad. The decision reshuffles India’s plans for the historic fixture at Lord’s.

New Test Call for Priya Punia

Punia, a 29‑year‑old right‑handed top‑order batter who also bowls right‑arm medium pace, is making her debut in the traditional format. She was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and has previously featured in limited‑overs cricket for India. The selection follows a strong performance for India A against England A, where she topped the run charts. Her series included scores of 23, 87 and 61, accumulating 171 runs across three ODIs. India A ultimately won the series 2‑1, with Punia’s contributions highlighted by the coaching staff.

Internationally, Punia has logged 12 Women’s ODIs, scoring 273 runs at an average of 27.30. Her best effort remains an unbeaten 75, and she has posted two half‑centuries in the format. In T20I cricket she has appeared in three matches, managing just nine runs. Despite her limited experience in red‑ball cricket, the selector viewed her recent form as a compelling reason for a Test opportunity. The one‑off Test marks the first chance for Punia to represent India in the longest version of the game.

India’s Full Test Squad vs England

• Harmanpreet Kaur – captain
• Smriti Mandhana – vice‑captain
• Shafali Varma
• Jemimah Rodrigues
• Deepti Sharma
• Richa Ghosh – wicketkeeper
• Sree Charani
• Yastika Bhatia – wicketkeeper
• Nandini Sharma
• Harleen Deol
• Renuka Thakur
• Kranti Gaud
• Sayali Satghare
• Sneh Rana
• Priya Punia

Punia’s inclusion underlines India’s focus on blending limited‑overs experience with fresh talent for the Test arena. With the squad now set, the spotlight falls on how the newcomers will adapt to the demands of a one‑day Test encounter at Lord’s. The match promises to be a key benchmark for both teams as they prepare for future international fixtures. Readers can expect tight contests, strategic battles, and plenty of moments to analyze in the days ahead.