The BCCI has announced the 15-member Indian women’s squad for the upcoming ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka, which will feature India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. As part of its World Cup preparation strategy, the selection committee has handed out maiden call-ups to three promising bowlers, while four key players—including star opener Shefali Verma—have been left out.

One of the biggest surprises in the squad announcement is the exclusion of Shefali Verma, despite her impressive run in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. Shefali hammered 304 runs in 9 innings at a strike rate of 152, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer in the tournament. Her omission has sparked questions, especially considering her explosive batting at the top.

The pace unit also takes a hit, with Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, and Pooja Vastrakar missing out due to injuries. All three were central to India’s pace attack and their absence will be a significant test for India’s bench strength.

In a move focused on building depth, three uncapped bowlers have been included:

• Kashvi Gautam: The standout pacer from Gujarat Giants in WPL 2025, Kashvi claimed 11 wickets in 9 matches, making her India’s highest wicket-taker of the season.
• N Sri Charani: The 20-year-old left-arm spinner impressed in limited chances with 4 wickets in 2 matches for Delhi Capitals.
• Shuchi Upadhyay: The left-arm spinner from Madhya Pradesh had a stellar run in the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy, taking 18 wickets at an economy of 3.48 and earning the Player of the Tournament award.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is back in the squad, having been rested for the Ireland series. Her return will provide much-needed experience and leadership as the team looks to fine-tune its core ahead of the ODI World Cup.