Eighteen-year-old opening batter Shafali Verma will lead India at the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa early next year. Shweta Sehrawat, who is currently leading the team in the five-match T20 series against New Zealand Women’s Development side in Mumbai, has been named her deputy.

Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, 19, who has played 25 T20Is and 17 ODIs for the senior women’s team, also found a place in the 15-member squad.

India’s Under-19 team will play five T20s against South Africa Under-19 from December 27 to January 4 in Pretoria before their opening match of the World Cup against the hosts on January 14 in Benoni.

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, Najla CMC, Yashashri