ICC Women’s World Cup | Shafali Verma misses out as India announce squad on expected lines

08/19/2025

India Women announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC ODI Cricket World Cup to be held at home from September 30. Veteran batter Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the side that will kick-off their campaign against Sri Lanka, with Shafali Varma failing to make the cut for the marquee event.

‌India will field a familiar-looking squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup set to start on September 30 in Bengaluru. The Chairperson of the selection panel of the Indian Women’s team announced a 15-member squad that saw swashbuckling opener Shafali Verma missing the bus for the marquee event.

The Delhi Capitals opener was dropped after the New Zealand series at home in October last year after managing just 113 runs from eight games in 2023 and 2024. With Pratika Rawal, who came into the side in Shafali’s place, having an excellent start to her ODI career amassing 703 runs in 14 matches at an average of 54.07 and a healthy strike rate of 87.43, the selectors had to take the harsh call of continuing with her.

The squad looks well-balanced and settled with pacer Renuka Thakur returning to the fold after an injury layoff that prevented her from featuring in an ODI in 2025. All-rounder Amanjot Kaur also makes a return after missing the last two ODIs of the England tour with an injury. However, she has been rested for the Australia series before the World Cup with Sayali Satghare replacing her.

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will helm India’s batting with Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh lending solidity and firepower in the middle. Deepti Sharma and Amanjot provide balance with their all-round abilities with Sneh Rana, Shree Charani and Radha Yadav joining Deepti in the spin department.

Apart from Renuka, the pace battery boasts the likes of Amanjot, Arundhati Reddy and young sensation Kranti Goud, who picked up a six-wicket haul in India's final ODI against England. India tune up to the World Cup with a three-match ODI series against Australia starting in New Chandigarh from September 14.

The Women in Blue will kick off their home World Cup campaign against neighbours Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on September 30.

India Women's World Cup squad

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, N Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana.

India Women’s squad for Australia ODIs

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, N Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana.