Shafali Verma left out of India's ODI squad to face Australia

Dynamic opener Shafali Verma has been left out of India's squad for the forthcoming three-match ODI series in and against Australia. Verma's exclusion comes on the back of a poor run of form, having aggregated 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 in the 16-member squad is the highly-rated offspinner Shreyanka Patil, who didn't feature in the XI during the New Zealand series due to shin splints. In fact, she played in the T20 World Cup only after a period on the sidelines with a hand injury. D. Hemalatha, Uma Chetry and Sayali Satgare are the others to miss out from the squad that beat 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

Meanwhile, India's travelling contingent to Australia will see the return of Harleen Deol, who played her last game for India in December 2023. Deol suffered a knee injury while playing for Gujarat Giants, one that restricted her participation to just three WPL games this year and needed a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation period.

Meanwhile, Richa Ghosh makes a comeback to the squad having missed out on the New Zealand series due to her Grade 12 board exams. There are no returns yet for legspinner Asha Sobhana and seamer Pooja Vastrakar, who missed that series after suffering injuries during the preceding T20 World Cup.

The selectors also chose to reward Minnu Mani with a maiden call-up to the ODI squad while also including fast bowler Titas Sadhu. The 20-year-old Sadhu 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 in Navi Mumbai, bagging a memorable 4 for 17. Sadhu also featured in a pair of T20Is against Bangladesh in May this year but was then laid low by an injury that necessitated a stint at the NCA.

Mani previously captained the India A side to a 2-1 series defeat against Australia A back in August, this year. She was rewarded for her handy contributions with the bat lower down the order, having scored 62 runs and picked up four wickets at a decent economy across three games.

Tejal Hasabnis retains her place in the squad after having played a gritty knock of 42 in the first ODI against New Zealand which allowed India to post a competitive total after they were in trouble early on. Priya Puniya, who last featured in a home ODI against South Africa and subsequently played in Australia with the 'A' side, has been welcomed back to the squad.

Series Schedule:

1st ODI - December 5, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

2nd ODI - December 8, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

3rd ODI - December 11, WACA, Perth