India's opening batter, Shafali Verma, has been left out of the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia next month due to her ongoing struggles with the bat. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the squad for the three-match series, which will be held in Australia in December.
With Verma dropped, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh returns to the squad after missing the previous home series against New Zealand due to her board exams. Ghosh is joined by Priya Punia, Harleen Deol, legspinner Minnu Mani, and pacer Titas Sadhu, all of whom have earned a spot in the 16-player team. Harleen, who has been away from the squad for nearly a year, last played an ODI for India in December 2023 against Australia at Wankhede Stadium.
There are also some absentees, including legspinner Asha Sobhana, who remains unavailable after being sidelined with an injury during the New Zealand series, and Pooja Vastrakar, who was rested for the New Zealand tour and is again missing from the squad.
Other players missing out include all-rounder Shreyanka Patil, spin-bowler Hemalatha, and uncapped seamer Sayali Satghare. However, middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, legspinner Priya Mishra, and seamer Saima Thakor, who made their debuts during the New Zealand series, have retained their places in the squad.
The first two ODIs of the series will be held at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on December 5 and 8, with the final match taking place at the WACA Ground in Perth on December 11. The series is part of the ongoing ICC Women's Championship.
India's ODI Squad for the Series Against Australia
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.
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