India squad for Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Shafali Verma misses, Renuka Thakur returns as IND eye maiden glory

India squad for Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Shafali Verma misses, Renuka Thakur returns

India squad for Women's ODI World Cup 2025: The squad for the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 was announced by the BCCI on Tuesday. Team's explosive batter Shafali Verma failed to make the cut for the marquee tournament. Pacer Renuka Thakur, who has not been in action for a while now due to injury, makes a return to the team. Thakur will make her international comeback in the three-match ODI series against Australia, which is scheduled to be played right before the World Cup. Thakur had sustained an injury on her foot after the Women Premier League (WPL) and didn't take part in the tri-series in Sri Lanka.

"Shafali is currently playing in Australia for India A. She is in our system - it's not that she's not in our system," said chief selector Neetu David at the press-conference. "We have our eyes on her as well. We hope that being more in the system, the more she plays, the more experience she gains and she will serve India in the future."

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Pratika Rawal will be seen opening the innings for India alongside seasoned cricketer Smriti Mandhana in Verma's absence. Rawal has been terrific since making her debut against the West Indies last December. The 24-year-old has amassed 703 runs at an impressive average of 54.07 in 14 innings.

Meanwhile, this will be the maiden World Cup for middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues, who was not part of the previous edition due to a lean patch in form. Harleen Deol, allrounders Amanjot Kaur and Arundhati Reddy, left-arm spinners Radha Yadav and Sree Charani, and pacer Kranti Goud also feature in the tournament as first-timers.

India Women's World Cup 2025 squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Kranti Goud, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur

Stand-by: Tejal Hasabnis , Prema Rawal, Priya Mishra , Uma Chetry, Mnnu Mani, Sayali Satghare