The Indian women’s cricket team is gearing up for an electrifying white-ball tour of England, with a full-strength squad named for the five-match T20I and three-match ODI series starting June 28. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the team across both formats, with Smriti Mandhana once again serving as her deputy.
Two major returns define the latest squad announcement: Shafali Verma and Sneh Rana are back in the T20I mix. Shafali’s recall comes after a stellar WPL campaign for the Delhi Capitals, where she amassed 304 runs at a strike rate of 152.76, forming a lethal opening pair with Meg Lanning. Her ability to dominate the powerplay with raw aggression is a boost to India’s top order, which has been inconsistent in recent months.
Despite her T20I call-up, Shafali continues to be overlooked in the ODI format — a decision that has raised several eyebrows. Over her career, the 20-year-old has featured in 29 ODIs, scoring 644 runs with a highest score of 71*. However, she’s now facing stiff competition from the rising star Pratika Rawal, who has made a sensational start to her ODI journey.
In just 11 matches, Rawal has accumulated 638 runs, including a career-best 154. Her rapid rise has seemingly edged Shafali out of the ODI picture for now, despite the latter’s explosive domestic run, including 527 runs in the Women’s One-Day Trophy at an average of 75.29 and a strike rate of 152.31.
Sneh Rana’s return to the T20I setup is another notable highlight. The experienced all-rounder last played a T20I in July 2023 but remained in contention thanks to her consistent domestic performances. Her re-entry comes on the heels of a triumphant ODI comeback in the Tri-Nation Series, where she claimed 15 wickets and walked away with the Player of the Series award. Her dual-threat ability makes her a vital cog in Indian conditions even more so in seaming English pitches.
The squad selection for both formats saw considerable shake-ups. From the team that faced West Indies in December 2024, India has dropped several players including Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu, Radha Yadav, Uma Chetry, Minnu Mani, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Nandini Kashyap, Sajana Sajeevan, and Raghvi Bist. Taking their places in the T20I lineup are Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Kranti Gaud, and Sayali Satghare.
In the ODI squad, Kashvee Gautam and Nallapureddy Shree Charani have been excluded after the Tri Series, replaced by Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare. Sayali, the promising Mumbai pacer, has earned spots in both squads following her standout domestic season.
The omission of Renuka Singh and Shreyanka Patil has been particularly noticeable. Renuka, recovering from a shoulder surgery, has struggled to maintain fitness and match-readiness. Meanwhile, Shreyanka’s exclusion comes despite a strong WPL and domestic campaign, with no formal reason cited.
The retained core includes seasoned campaigners like Deepti Sharma, who continues to be India’s premier all-rounder, and Jemimah Rodrigues, fresh from a 245-run haul in just four innings. Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, and Amanjot Kaur bring depth and versatility, while Tejal Hasabnis and Pratika Rawal have been picked solely for the ODI format.
India’s confidence is riding high following their dominant Tri-Nation ODI Series win over Sri Lanka and South Africa. In the final at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium, India thrashed Sri Lanka by 97 runs to lift the title.
With seasoned match-winners returning and young guns firing on all cylinders, the upcoming England tour offers a perfect stage for India to showcase its growing bench strength and strategic depth. All eyes will be on how the team balances experience with emerging talent in challenging English conditions.
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
