Series Preview: Senior India One-Day Challenger Trophy

The 50-over Challenger Trophy is set to be held between January 3 and 6. It features three teams; India Red, led by Shikha Pandey, India Green, led by Mona Meshram, and India Blue, led by Punam Raut. All teams will play each other once, with the two most successful teams clashing in the final.



Key Players



With most players that have already been selected for India's upcoming tour of New Zealand rested, the responsibility of guiding their respective teams to victory fall on the experienced shoulders of the other internationals present in the squads.



Raut, Pandey and Meshram have all been named in the ODI squad. But, recently, they have all found themselves put off the Playing XI for India. They will be key to their sides' success given their experience, but they will also be looking to do well to earn their place back in the Playing XI.



Priya Punia, an up-and-coming youngster, who has been named in the T20 squad for New Zealand, will also look to leave an impression on the selectors. Playing for India Blue, she will be keen to show off her skills with the willow and cement a permanent place for herself in the squad.



While Punia will be looking to claim a place in the ODI squad as well, Veda Krishnamurthy will be hoping her efforts will be enough to earn her a call-up for India's next tour, after not being named in either squad against New Zealand. Krishnamurthy was a regular in the Indian squad, but after a series of disappointing performances, she finds her name omitted from the touring party. India Red will be relying on her to deliver with the bat and she will be hoping she can use her experience to do just that.



Importance



The Challenger gives the players a massive opportunity to show case their talents. The selection committee, led by Hemalata Kala, is determined to build India's bench strength and performing well here could earn some deserving youngsters their maiden call-up. Jemimah Rodrigues is the perfect example for this as she was named for the South African tour, after leaving an impression on the selectors, during the T20 Challenger Series last year.



Squads:



India Red: Shikha Pandey (c), N Anusha, Shivi Pandey, Veda Krishnamurthy, Vrushali Bhagat, Jasia Akhter, Jhansi Lakshmi, Komal Zanzad, Shanti Kumari, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, R Kalpana (wk), Tarannum Pathan



India Blue: Punam Raut (c), Priya Punia, Tanushree Sarkar, Bharti Fulmali, Aditi Sharma, Tamanna Nigam, Mansi Joshi, Reema Laxmi Ekka, Manali Dakshini, Tanuja Kanwer, G Trisha, Sushma Verma (wk), Minnu Mani



India Green: Mona Meshram (c), D Hemalatha, Shefali Verma, Tejal Hasabnis, Anita Lodhi, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Shublaxmi, Devyani Prasad, SB Keerthana, Shweta Verma (wk), Sushree Dibyadarshini