ICC Women's ODI World Cup squad: No Shafali Verma as India opt for solidity over x-factor

Indian Express

2 days ago

Seated next to chief selector Neetu David, Harmanpreet Kaur let out a chuckle as India's World Cup squad was announced – even before there is final clarity on the venues for the tournament. Is this one of the easier selection meetings she has been part of? 'Ji haan,' she smiled. 'We were discussing that, actually, this is the shortest meeting we have had… and hopefully the best one as well,' India's captain said in a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Indeed, fresh from an ODI series win in England, it was no surprise that India have largely decided to stick to the same combination. There were a couple of key talking points beforehand. Whether there'd be a temptation to include Shafali Verma, after she made a pretty impressive return to T20Is, but didn't play in the ODIs that followed. That answer turned out to be a no. Then there was a question of fitness over Amanjot Kaur and Renuka Singh Thakur, and both have been included to bolster the bowling unit – the former only for the World Cup and not for the preparatory three-match series against Australia as she continues to work at the Center of Excellence over some niggles. But apart from that, there was little intrigue in the squad announcement for the marquee 50-over tournament at home.
But it wasn't always this smooth in the year or so leading up to the tournament. Radha Yadav, who set the benchmark for India's fielding in England, wasn't originally in the squad for the tour, only replacing rookie left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay. Sneh Rana has made more comebacks to the side than one could count on one hand. Kranti Goud, the pacer from rural Madhya Pradesh who picked up a superb 6-wicket haul in India's series-clinching win in Chester-le-Street, wasn't in the squad for the recent Tri Series in Sri Lanka. She, in fact, made her debut directly in the final of that tournament, replacing an injured Kashvee Gautam. And then Shree Charani, having played just two matches in the WPL but impressing enough, was drafted in for the Tri Series as the latest in a long line of left-arm spinners trialled over the last year. She has since gone on to win a player of the series award (T20Is) in England and has made a mark with control and accuracy.
It is fair to say that, for a short and largely controversy-free selection meeting, India took the scenic route. 'Our team did well in the England series,' Neetu said, after mentioning that Shafali is still very much part of the system and has a long future ahead. 'We have been working on this squad for a long time now. We have gotten better. I don't think it would have been fair to change it too much before a World Cup. Harmanpreet chimed in: 'Team looks quite balanced to me in both batting and bowling departments, and hopefully, in both – Australia series and the World Cup, we will play our best cricket.'
If they do play their best cricket consistently, there is little doubt that India will challenge Australia's stronghold of the tournament. The batting does have a settled look, although there is a case to be made that the top order looks much of a muchness. That is where Shafali could have been seen as a disruptive option, at least as a backup if not in the main XI, but India have opted for solidity over X-Factor. Yastika Bhatia, as the backup wicketkeeper and having had a good 'A' tour of Australia, will provide a point of difference if needed, but beyond that India have decided to load up the bowling resources.
A power packed #TeamIndia squad for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 💪
Harmanpreet Kaur to lead the 15 member squad 🙌🙌#WomenInBlue | #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/WPXA3AoKOR
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) August 19, 2025
Renuka hasn't played international cricket since the end of WPL, having worked through some niggles, but her return adds experience to the bowling attack that had its moments in England. Her WPL returns haven't always been impressive for RCB but when fit, she still remains the spearhead for India. Kranti's raw talent is exciting, but to go into a World Cup with her as the leading pacer would have been too much pressure on young shoulders. While Pooja Vastrakar's form and fitness could have potentially been a major issue, Amanjot's availability is important too as India can bolster their batting depth with her in the side. In the spin department, Deepti Sharma will lead the way and has able support in any of Sneh, Radha and Charani (maybe all of them) on a given day.
Indeed, all signs are that – on paper – India have seemingly made a lot of smart choices. The 50-over format is perhaps where a lot of the Indian players are at their most comfortable, and a World Cup at home offers a serious shot at winning that elusive title.
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana
For ODIs against Australia before the World Cup: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana