new delhi, Aug 19
Fast bowler Renuka Singh and all-rounder Amanjot Kaur have returned from injuries to earn spots in India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, starting September 30.
The selectors, however, left out Shafali Verma, who has been out of favour in the ODI set-up since last year, along with Tejal Hasnabis, Shuchi Upadhyay and Sayali Satghare, all of whom featured in the recent ODI series against England.
Meanwhile, Amanjot will not play the three-match ODI series against Australia that precedes the World Cup. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur revealed that the all-rounder is currently at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence “working on a few small niggles.”
Renuka, in contrast, has been picked for the Australia series beginning September 14 in New Chandigarh. Satghare will feature in that series and then make way for Amanjot at the World Cup. Amanjot, who has quickly become a key all-round option for India, missed the last two ODIs against England after a flare-up of a back injury. Renuka has been sidelined since December 2024 with a stress fracture.
Among the bowlers, Kranti Goud, the leading wicket-taker in the England ODIs, has been retained alongside Renuka, Amanjot and Arundhati Reddy. The spin department features Sneh Rana, who impressed on her return during the Sri Lanka tri-series, Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav.
In batting, Pratika Rawal, who replaced Shafali in the ODI format last year, is set to continue opening with Smriti Mandhana. Harleen Deol is expected to bat at No. 3, followed by Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues. Yastika Bhatia, who last played an ODI in October 2024, returns as a back-up wicketkeeping option to Richa Ghosh.
Though Satghare misses out on the World Cup, she has been named among the standbys along with Tejal Hasnabis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Uma Chetry and Minnu Mani.
Co-hosts India and Sri Lanka will open the tournament on September 30. India, who have never won the Women’s ODI World Cup, finished runners-up in 2005 and 2017.
India’s World Cup squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Sneh Rana
India squad for Australia ODIs: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, 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.
