Key all-rounder out injured as West Indies name squad for India tour

Star all-rounder Stafanie Taylor was a notable absentee as the West Indies named their squad for next month's white-ball tour of India.

The Caribbean side will play a total of six white-ball contests (three T20Is and three ODIs) in Mumbai and Vadodara during December, but will have to do so without one of their most experienced players with Taylor absent with injury.

While the West Indies failed to divulge the full extent of Taylor's injury, the 33-year-old did pick up a knee injury during last month's ICC Women's T20 World Cup and was sidelined for one match during that tournament.

Skipper Hayley Matthews will once again lead the West Indies during the series, while former captain Deandra Dottin will return to ODI cricket for the first time in more than two years following some eye-catching efforts during the recent T20 World Cup.

Dottin hit the most sixes of any player during the event, clearing the rope on nine occasions in a spectacular return to international cricket after she retired from the game in 2022.

Pacer Shabika Gajnabi and wicket-keeper-batter Rashada Williams return to the fold after they missed the T20 World Cup and West Indie coach Shane Deitz is hoping his side can replicate the form that helped the side qualify for the semi-finals of the 20-over showcase in the UAE last month when they take on India away from home.

“We want to take the good momentum we gained at the T20 World Cup into this series. We showed that we can compete against the top teams which was pleasing," Deitz said.

“Since I've taken over, I've seen improvements in all areas, but we still have a long way to go. The consistency of high-level performance is what we need to keep working towards and this is a good opportunity to play six matches against one of the best teams in the world.

“We want to get more girls involved with franchise cricket moving forward and looking toward India, it's always good to play in front of the Indian IPL teams. ​ It is good for our ladies to start getting their names in front of those people, to hopefully open some opportunities in the future.” ​

West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (c), ​Shemaine Campbelle (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Nerissa Crafton, ​Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, ​Shabika Gajnabi, ​Chinelle Henry,​ Zaida James,​ Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, ​Ashmini Munisar, ​Karishma Ramharack,​ Rashada Williams ​

Series schedule:

First T20I: December 15, Mumbai
​Second T20I: December 17, Mumbai
​Third T20I: December 19, Mumbai

First ODI: December 22, Vadodara
Second ODI: December 24, Vadodara
Third ODI: December 27, Vadodara