Shafali Verma Misses Out as India Unveil Squad for Australia ODI Series
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| Shafali Verma misses out in India's squad for the ODI series against Australia. / Getty |
India have announced their 16-player squad for next month's highly anticipated three-match ODI series against Australia, with the major surprise being the omission of explosive young opener Shafali Verma. The series, which is part of the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship, will see India lock horns with the hosts in Brisbane and Perth.
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the squad, with Smriti Mandhana named as vice-captain, providing strong leadership as India look to continue their push in the ICC Women's Championship standings, where they currently sit in second place, just behind Australia. Both teams, along with the third-ranked side, have already qualified for next year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Key Players in the Squad
The India squad includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talents. Smriti Mandhana, who has been in superb form, will be looking to support Harmanpreet Kaur, and the duo will form the backbone of India's batting lineup. The squad also features the dynamic duo of Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh, both of whom will vie for the wicket-keeping role.
In a significant development, all-rounder Harleen Deol makes her return to the squad after a prolonged absence due to a knee injury. Deol, 26, will be eager to make her first international appearance of 2024 and add depth to India’s middle order.
The Shafali Verma Dilemma
The absence of Shafali Verma from the squad comes as a surprise. The explosive batter, known for her aggressive opening role, struggled during the recent ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where she managed just 97 runs from four matches. Her form continued to dip in the subsequent ODI series against New Zealand, where she only accumulated 56 runs from three innings. Despite her previous success, including being named one of the ICC’s "100% Cricket superstars," Verma has missed out on selection for the series in Australia.
Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor Get Another Chance
The young duo of Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor, both of whom impressed during the recent ODI series against New Zealand, have been given another opportunity to prove their worth at the international level. With a series against the top-ranked Australian side ahead, the pair will be keen to make their mark.
India Squad for the Australia ODI Series:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Smriti Mandhana (vc)
- Priya Punia
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Harleen Deol
- Yastika Bhatia (wk)
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Tejal Hasabnis
- Deepti Sharma
- Minnu Mani
- Priya Mishra
- Radha Yadav
- Titas Sadhu
- Arundhati Reddy
- Renuka Singh Thakur
- Saima Thakor
Series Schedule:
- First ODI: Brisbane, December 5
- Second ODI: Brisbane, December 8
- Third ODI: Perth, December 11