Jintimani Kalita replaces Renuka Singh Thakur in India ODI squad for Zimbabwe series
Assam seamer Jintimani Kalita joins India's ODI squad for Zimbabwe as Renuka Singh Thakur steps back to manage her workload before the 50-over World Cup cycle.
Assam seamer Jintimani Kalita has been called up to India's ODI squad for the Zimbabwe series, replacing Renuka Singh Thakur. Renuka's pulled out to build her bowling workload ahead of the 50-over World Cup cycle — a sign selectors are thinking long-term about her fitness and availability.
Kalita, who made her India debut earlier this year, comes in as a pace option. The move lets the team manage workloads across the women's squad during bilateral cricket, rather than running anyone into the ground on what amounts to a dress rehearsal.
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur remains sidelined with a fractured right middle finger. He's missed two domestic fixtures and won't play Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Haryana at the BKC Complex either.
CricHubb Take
Resting Renuka now signals India's shift toward rotation in bilateral series — a luxury they couldn't afford before. The question is whether Kalita, still new to the setup, gets genuine game time or sits the bench watching someone else.