Rajkot, January 7, 2025: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed the 15-member Indian women’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Ireland, scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 10 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. With regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur rested due to a knee injury, star opener Smriti Mandhana will assume the leadership role. Mandhana, an experienced campaigner, has previously led the team effectively in Kaur’s absence.
Squad Changes and Surprising Exclusions
Key pacer Renuka Singh Thakur joins Harmanpreet on the sidelines, while Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav have also been excluded. In their place, promising talents such as Raghvi Bist, Pratika Rawal, and Priya Mishra continue to hold their spots after commendable performances in recent matches. The squad also sees the return of Tejal Hasabnis, who missed the West Indies series.
However, the omission of Shafali Verma once again raises eyebrows. Despite her recent monumental knock of 197 off 115 balls, she has been left out of the ODI squad. Verma’s exclusion suggests a strategic focus on consistency and team balance, as she remains part of the Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy squads.
Fixtures and Venue
The three ODIs are slated for January 10, 12, and 15, all starting at 11 AM IST. The matches will be held at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, where Ireland will look to bounce back after their disappointing 50-over series against Bangladesh. In contrast, India aims to maintain momentum with a fresh mix of youth and experience.
India’s Squad for Ireland ODIs
- Smriti Mandhana (C)
- Deepti Sharma (VC)
- Pratika Rawal
- Harleen Deol
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Uma Chetry (wk)
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Tejal Hasabnis
- Raghvi Bist
- Minnu Mani
- Priya Mishra
- Tanuja Kanwer
- Titas Sadhu
- Saima Thakor
- Sayali Satghare
Ireland’s Recent Performance
Ireland enters the series following a mixed bag of results against Bangladesh, winning the T20I series but suffering a clean sweep in the ODI format. The Irish team will seek redemption, but India’s robust squad depth and home advantage make for a formidable challenge.
