The Indian women’s team, already low on morale after the 1-4 rout in the ODI series, received a jolt on the eve of the three-match T20I series. Their captain and batting mainstay Harmanpreet Kaur has been ruled out of the first game due to an injury she had suffered while batting during the last ODI against South Africa.

In her absence, Smriti Mandhana will lead the young squad and has a Herculean task when the young brigade take on an experienced South African team in the day-night opener at the Atal Behari Stadium here today.