Seated subsequent to chief selector Neetu David, Harmanpreet Kaur let loose a chuckle as India’s World Cup squad was introduced – even earlier than there’s remaining readability on the venues for the match. Is that this one of many simpler choice conferences she has been a part of? “Ji haan,” she smiled. “We had been discussing that, truly, that is the shortest assembly we’ve had… and hopefully the very best one as effectively,” India’s captain stated in a press convention in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Certainly, contemporary from an ODI sequence win in England, it was no shock that India have largely determined to stay to the identical mixture. There have been a few key speaking factors beforehand. Whether or not there’d be a temptation to incorporate Shafali Verma, after she made a fairly spectacular return to T20Is, however didn’t play within the ODIs that adopted. That reply turned out to be a no. Then there was a query of health over Amanjot Kaur and Renuka Singh Thakur, and each have been included to bolster the bowling unit – the previous just for the World Cup and never for the preparatory three-match sequence towards Australia as she continues to work on the Heart of Excellence over some niggles. However other than that, there was little intrigue within the squad announcement for the marquee 50-over match at dwelling.
But it surely wasn’t at all times this easy within the yr or so main as much as the match. Radha Yadav, who set the benchmark for India’s fielding in England, wasn’t initially within the squad for the tour, solely changing rookie left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay. Sneh Rana has made extra comebacks to the aspect than one may rely on one hand. Kranti Goud, the pacer from rural Madhya Pradesh who picked up an excellent 6-wicket haul in India’s series-clinching win in Chester-le-Road, wasn’t within the squad for the current Tri Sequence in Sri Lanka. She, in reality, made her debut straight within the remaining of that match, changing an injured Kashvee Gautam. After which Shree Charani, having performed simply two matches within the WPL however impressing sufficient, was drafted in for the Tri Sequence as the newest in a protracted line of left-arm spinners trialled over the past yr. She has since gone on to win a participant of the sequence award (T20Is) in England and has made a mark with management and accuracy.
It’s truthful to say that, for a brief and largely controversy-free choice assembly, India took the scenic route. “Our crew did effectively within the England sequence,” Neetu stated, after mentioning that Shafali remains to be very a lot a part of the system and has a protracted future forward. “We now have been engaged on this squad for a very long time now. We now have gotten higher. I don’t assume it could have been truthful to alter it an excessive amount of earlier than a World Cup. Harmanpreet chimed in: “Crew seems to be fairly balanced to me in each batting and bowling departments, and hopefully, in each – Australia sequence and the World Cup, we are going to play our greatest cricket.”
In the event that they do play their finest cricket persistently, there’s little doubt that India will problem Australia’s stronghold of the match. The batting does have a settled look, though there’s a case to be made that the highest order seems to be a lot of a muchness. That’s the place Shafali may have been seen as a disruptive possibility, not less than as a backup if not in the principle XI, however India have opted for solidity over X-Issue. Yastika Bhatia, because the backup wicketkeeper and having had a very good ‘A’ tour of Australia, will present a degree of distinction if wanted, however past that India have determined to load up the bowling assets.
An influence packed #TeamIndia squad for the ICC Ladies’s Cricket World Cup 2025 💪
Harmanpreet Kaur to steer the 15 member squad 🙌🙌#WomenInBlue | #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/WPXA3AoKOR
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) August 19, 2025
Renuka hasn’t performed worldwide cricket because the finish of WPL, having labored via some niggles, however her return provides expertise to the bowling assault that had its moments in England. Her WPL returns haven’t at all times been spectacular for RCB however when match, she nonetheless stays the spearhead for India. Kranti’s uncooked expertise is thrilling, however to enter a World Cup along with her because the main pacer would have been an excessive amount of strain on younger shoulders. Whereas Pooja Vastrakar’s kind and health may have probably been a significant subject, Amanjot’s availability is vital too as India can bolster their batting depth along with her within the aspect. Within the spin division, Deepti Sharma will paved the way and has in a position help in any of Sneh, Radha and Charani (perhaps all of them) on a given day.
Certainly, all indicators are that – on paper – India have seemingly made a variety of good decisions. The 50-over format is maybe the place a variety of the Indian gamers are at their most snug, and a World Cup at dwelling gives a critical shot at profitable that elusive title.
India’s squad for ICC Ladies’s World Cup (beginning September 30):
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
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For ODIs towards Australia earlier than 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