17-Year-Old Kamalini Gets Asian Games Call-Up After Impressive Rise

Young wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini has earned a big opportunity. The 17-year-old has been named in India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Kamalini replaces Yastika Bhatia in the only change from the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team that exited the Women’s T20 World Cup in the group stage. Bhatia had a tough World Cup, managing just 41 runs in three innings.

Kamalini has been making waves for a while now. She was part of the India A squad that toured England this month, scoring an unbeaten 35 in a T20 win at Northampton. Before that, she finished third in the run charts at the 2025 U19 Women’s World Cup.

She also plays for Mumbai Indians in the WPL. The franchise signed her for INR 1.6 crore in 2025 and retained her for the 2026 season. In 14 matches across two seasons, she has scored 107 runs.

Her senior debut came last year against Sri Lanka, though that remains her only appearance for India so far.

Offspinner Shreyanka Patil has been included in the squad, but subject to fitness. She was ruled out of the T20 World Cup midway after injuring her ankle. Prema Rawat, who replaced her during the tournament, has not been picked for the Asian Games.

India go into the competition as defending champions. They won the gold medal in the women’s cricket event at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September.

                                               

Relevant news