The Women in Blue have by no means kissed a World Cup. Of any form, truly – the 50-over one, or the 20.
The ODI World Cup, which begins on September 30 and is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, offers them a superb alternative to set that document proper.
The squad picked by the panel headed by chief selector Neetu David in Mumbai on Tuesday has the potential to do it. It was fairly an anticipated 15. The clever girls appear to have acquired it proper, kind of.
The solely query was if they’d convey opener Shafali Verma in. If they went purely by expertise and prospects, she might have been pencilled in. But in the event that they thought-about her latest performances in ODIs and the continuity of the group, Shafali was going to overlook out.
After scoring an unbeaten 71 towards Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2022, Shafali has not made a fifty in her 12 innings since. She did nicely on her return to the T20 group although, on the tour of England. And she had been on fireplace on the home scene and the Women’s Premier League.
She is an distinctive expertise and a delight to look at. But the selectors have indicated she should wait: they didn’t embrace her even among the many reserves.
Shafali has not scored large in ODIs for a while.
| Photo Credit:
FILE PHOTO: Getty Images
Shafali’s alternative within the opener’s slot, Pratika Rawal, has been very good to date in her younger profession. She has scored 703 runs from 14 ODIs at 54.07, and she has shaped a strong partnership with Smriti Mandhana.
India might be hoping that the duo will flourish on the World Cup too, in order that issues could be a bit simpler for the likes of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harleen Deol.
The selectors have achieved the best factor by choosing Kranti Goud, although she has performed simply 4 ODIs to date. Not many Indian seamers have brought about as a lot pleasure for years. She has tempo and ability.
Renuka Singh’s return, after her injury-induced break, can also be excellent news for the Indian assault. Her swing and expertise ought to come in useful.
Another younger bowler who impressed on the England tour, N. Shree Charani, has earned her place. As has the younger all-rounder Amanjot Kaur.
Yastika Bhatia is the best selection because the second wicketkeeper, and she may be performed as a pure batter, too. Apart from Charani, there are additionally the skilled spin trio of Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana.
