India’s group for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia does not include the dynamic opener Shafali Verma. Following a poor run of play in which he amassed just 56 runs in the most recent home series against New Zealand, Verma was excluded. Verma’s four ODI half-centuries really ended in July 2022.
The highly regarded offspinner Shreyanka Patil is another interesting absent from the 16-man team. She missed the New Zealand series because of shin splints. She actually didn’t play in the T20 World Cup until after missing time due to a hand injury. Sayali Satgare, Uma Chetry, and D. Hemalatha were the other players left off of the team that defeated New Zealand.
Squad:
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
Harleen Deol, who played her final game for India in December 2023. She will return to Australia as part of India’s touring contingent. Deol only participated in three WPL games this season due to a knee injury she sustained while playing for the Gujarat Giants, which required a protracted recuperation and rehabilitation period.
Richa Ghosh, who missed the New Zealand series because of her Grade 12 board examinations, returns to the team. Legspinner Asha Sobhana and seamer Pooja Vastrakar, who missed that series due to injuries sustained during the previous T20 World Cup, have not yet made a comeback.
Along with quick bowler Titas Sadhu, the selectors also decided to give Minnu Mani his first call-up to the ODI team. In the home series against Australia last year. Sadhu, 20, did not play in the ODI team. With an unforgettable 4 for 17. She left her imprint in the first Twenty20 Internationals against the same opponents in Navi Mumbai. Additionally, Sadhu played in two Twenty20 Internationals against Bangladesh in May of this year before suffering an injury that required time at the NCA.
Earlier this year, in August, Mani led the India A team to a 2-1 series loss to Australia A. In three games, she amassed 62 runs and claimed four wickets at a respectable economy rate, rewarding her for her useful contributions with the bat further down the order.
When India was in danger early in the first ODI against New Zealand, Tejal Hasabnis played a gutsy innings of 42. Which helped them achieve a competitive total and earn her a spot in the squad. The team has welcomed Priya Puniya back after she played with the ‘A’ team in Australia. After her previous appearance in a home ODI match against South Africa.
Series Schedule:
1st ODI – December 5, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
2nd ODI – December 8, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
3rd ODI – December 11, WACA, Perth
