Shafali Verma omitted for Australia ODIs; Richa Ghosh and Priya Punia make a comeback

Opener Shafali Verma has been omitted from India's squad for the upcoming three ODIs on the tour of Australia, citing her recent struggles with form. On a positive note, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh has made a comeback to the team after missing the home ODIs against New Zealand to focus on her board exams.

There were call-ups for batters Priya Punia, Harleen Deol, offspinner Minnu Mani and fast bowler Titas Sadhu, who are all part of the 16-member squad for the three ODIs in Brisbane and Perth on December 5, 8 and 11.

Legspinner Asha Sobhana, who had missed the New Zealand series because of injury, continues to be unavailable, while allrounder Pooja Vastrakar, who was rested against New Zealand, is also absent. Also missing from the squad are offspinner Shreyanka Patil, spin-bowling allrounder D Hemalatha, uncapped seamer Sayali Satghare, back-up wicketkeeper Uma Chetry.

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Middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, legspinner Priya Mishra and seamer Saima Thakor, who all made their debuts against New Zealand and made a mark, have retained their spots to face Australia.

Shafali has not been able to crack ODIs for some time now - she has 108 runs at an average of 18 in six games this year. The last time she was dropped in the 50-over format - after the first of the three-match series against Australia at home in December 2023 - Yastika Bhatia opened with Smriti Mandhana and Ghosh batted at No.3.In Shafali's absence, Yastika might open, with Punia auditioning for the No.3 spot.

Punia has played three ODIs since 2023 and made a comeback against South Africa in June this year on the back of impressive domestic performances. She featured only in the final ODI against South Africa and was then part of the India A tour of Australia in August where she didn't find much success. However she was dropped for the New Zealand series in Ahmedabad in October where Yastika batted at No.3. Hemalatha played three ODIs this year at No.3 and 4 but failed to hold on to her spot.

Deol is another familiar name back in the fold after almost a year. The middle-order batter has played only ten ODIs since her debut in 2019 and scored two fifties but was never given a sustained run in the format. Her last ODI was also against Australia at home last year.

Titas Sadhu, who has featured in nine T20Is but is yet to make an international appearance in ODI, will be the back-up fast bowler with Renuka Singh and Arundhati Reddy leading the attack that also has Thakor. Like Sadhu, spinner Minnu has also played only in T20Is for India and has been named in the squad.

The ODIs will be part of the Championship where Australia and England are the joint table-toppers. India automatically qualify for the 2025 World Cup as hosts. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co are also coming off a 2-1 victory against New Zealand while Australia last played ODIs against Bangladesh in March and won the series 2-1 in Mirpur.

That apart, the likes of Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika, Deepti Sharma are currently in Australia playing for the WBBL.

India's squad for ODIs against Australia

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana, 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