DYNAMIC opener Shafali Verma has been dropped from India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series in and against Australia. Verma’s exclusion comes on the back of a poor run of form, having scored just 56 runs in the recent home series against New Zealand. In fact, the last of Verma’s four ODI half-centuries came in July 2022.

Another notable absentee from the 16-member squad is highly-rated offspinner Shreyanka Patil, who did not play in the playing XI during the New Zealand series due to shin splints. In fact, she only played in the T20 World Cup after a spell on the sidelines with a hand injury. D. Hemalatha, Uma Chetry and Sayali Satgare are the others who missed out from the team that defeated New Zealand.
Meanwhile, India’s touring contingent to Australia will see the return of Harleen Deol, who played her last match for India in December 2023. Deol suffered a knee injury while playing for Gujarat Giants, one that limited her participation in just three WPL matches this year and needed a long recovery and rehabilitation period.

Meanwhile, Richa Ghosh returns to the team after missing the New Zealand series due to her Class 12 exams. There are no returns yet for leg-spinner Asha Sobhana and seamer Pooja Vastrakar, who missed this series after sustaining injuries during the previous T20 World Cup.
The selectors also chose to reward Minnu Mani with a first call-up to the ODI squad, including fast bowler Titas Sadhu. Sadhu, 20, was an unused member of the ODI squad in last year’s home series against Australia. She made a mark in the opening T20Is against the same

opposition from Navi Mumbai, taking a memorable 4 for 17. Sadhu also played in a pair of T20Is against Bangladesh in May this year, but was then sidelined by injury which necessitated a spell at the NCA .
Mani captained India A in a 2-1 series defeat against Australia A in August this year. She was rewarded for her useful contributions with the bat down the stretch as she scored 62 runs and took four wickets at a decent economy in three games.

Tejal Hasabnis retains his place in the team after playing a knock of 42 in the first ODI against New Zealand, which allowed India to post a competitive total after struggling early on. Priya Puniya, who last played in an ODI at home against South Africa and later played in Australia with the ‘A’ team, has been welcomed back into the squad.

Team: 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

Evening schedule:

1st ODI – December 5, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
2nd ODI – December 8, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
3rd ODI – December 11, WACA, Perth (Cricbuzz)