India's Women's Cricket Teams for England Tour Revealed
India has officially announced their women's white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of England, which is set to commence on June 28, 2025. The series will kick off with five T20 Internationals, followed by a three-match ODI series.
A notable highlight in the T20I squad is the return of opener Shafali Verma, who has been absent from the setup for a while. Her inclusion marks a significant change, especially as the ODI squad largely mirrors the team that recently triumphed in the Tri-Nation Series held in Sri Lanka.
Shafali, who previously captained the U19 World Cup-winning team, was dropped from the T20I squad last year due to inconsistent performances. However, she has since showcased her skills in domestic cricket and the Women’s Premier League with the Delhi Capitals. Her aggressive batting style is seen as a potential game-changer for India, especially as they aim to diversify their batting order ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Despite her return to the T20I squad, Shafali is not included in the ODI plans at this time, as the focus remains on establishing a stable lineup for the upcoming home World Cup later this year.
The ODI squad has also undergone a slight adjustment, with Mumbai's pace-bowling allrounder Sayali Satghare rejoining the team, replacing the injured Kashvee Gautam, who sustained an injury during the Tri-Series. Kranti Gaud, who stepped in for Kashvee during the series, has retained her position in both the ODI and T20I squads.
During the Tri-Series, India awarded four new caps to Kranti, Kashvee, and left-arm spinners Sree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay. Except for the injured Kashvee, the others have been retained and have also received their first T20I call-ups.
Injury Concerns for Key Players
India's impressive performance in Sri Lanka, aside from one loss to the hosts, has been a positive step in their World Cup preparations. However, injury issues loom over the team. Both Renuka Singh Thakur and Titas Sadhu were unavailable for the Tri-Series and continue to be unfit.
Renuka's absence is particularly concerning due to her strong track record in English conditions. Additionally, there are uncertainties surrounding Shreyanka Patil and Asha Sobhana, who have not participated in any matches since missing the WPL earlier this year.
India's T20I Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare
India's ODI Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare
