With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 on the horizon, the Indian Women’s Cricket team is actively engaged in preparations, the latest development being the announcement of their 15-member squad for an upcoming Tri-Nation One Day International (ODI) series in Sri Lanka.1 This series, also featuring South Africa, is scheduled to commence on April 27th and will provide crucial match practice and opportunities for team composition refinement ahead of the World Cup, which will be hosted in India later this year.2
Harmanpreet Kaur Returns to Lead
A significant development in the squad announcement is the return of veteran batter Harmanpreet Kaur as captain.3 She was rested for the recent three-ODI series against Ireland at home. Her experience and leadership will be vital as India fine-tunes its strategies and combinations for the challenges ahead. Smriti Mandhana will continue in her role as the vice-captain, providing stability and experience at the top of the order.4
Fresh Faces Get the Nod
The squad also features some exciting new talents who have earned their maiden national call-ups in the ODI format. Kashvee Gautam, a 21-year-old all-rounder who impressed in the recent Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 by picking up the most wickets (11) for an Indian bowler, has been included.5 Left-arm spinner N. Shree Charani, who showcased her skills in the WPL for Delhi Capitals, and left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay, the highest wicket-taker in the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy 2024, have also been selected, indicating a focus on bolstering the spin department.6
Injuries Sideline Key Pacers
However, the squad announcement also revealed that the pace duo of Renuka Singh Thakur and Titas Sadhu were not considered for selection due to injuries.7 Their absence will be a concern for the team management, and the performance of the other pacers in the tri-series will be closely monitored.
Shafali Verma Continues to Miss Out
Notably, young opening batter Shafali Verma continues to be absent from the ODI setup.8 Despite her aggressive prowess in the T20 format, she hasn’t found a consistent place in the longer format yet.
Tri-Series Schedule and Significance
The Tri-Nation series will be held entirely at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.9 India’s schedule includes:
- April 27th: vs. Sri Lanka
- April 29th: vs. South Africa
- May 4th: vs. Sri Lanka
- May 7th: vs. South Africa
Each team will play four matches, with the top two teams progressing to the final on May 11th.10 This series offers a valuable platform for the Indian team to assess their strengths and weaknesses against two quality opponents in conditions similar to what they might encounter during the World Cup at home. It will also provide opportunities for the new players to gain international exposure and stake their claim for a spot in the World Cup squad.
India’s World Cup Preparations
This tri-series is a crucial part of India’s preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which they will be hosting. Having directly qualified for the tournament as hosts, India will be aiming to build momentum and fine-tune their team composition in the lead-up to the prestigious event. The inclusion of new talent alongside experienced campaigners highlights the team management’s intent to create a balanced and formidable squad capable of competing for the World Cup title on home soil. The performance in the Sri Lanka series will provide valuable insights into the team’s progress and potential.