Mumbai: India women's cricket team  captain Mithali Raj and out-of-form opener Jaya Sharma were dropped from the second edition of the Women's Challengers Tournament to be held at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera here from September 21-24.

Following their disastrous series in England where the Indians were humiliated 0-4, the national women`s selectors led by Anju Jain decided to rest the duo.

 Kolkata pacer Jhulan Goswami will lead the India Senior side in the absence of Mithali.

Star allrounder Rumeli Dhar, who missed out on the England series due to injury, will make a comeback in the Challengers Trophy, meant for probables for the forthcoming tour Down Under.

Rumeli will lead India A while Amita Sharma has been made skipper of India B.

The three teams will play against each other on the lines of the NKP Salve Challengers Trophy for men.

At the end of the tournament, the selectors will pick the squad for the five-match ODI series and a one-off Twenty20 game against Australia in October-November.

The tour Down Under will act as preparation for the ICC Women`s World Cup to be hosted by world champions Australia next year.

India Seniors: Jhulan Goswami (captain); Anagha Deshpande (wk); Monica Sumra; Asha Rawat; Priyanka Roy; Seema Pujare; Gauhar Sultan; Apurva Kokil; Shweta Jadhav; V.R.Vanitha; Anureet Kaur; Lalita Sharma; Swaroopa Kadam. Manager: Anju Jain.

Tags: womens cricket, mithali raj, jaya sharma, julan goswami, womens's challengers tournament.