One of the key questions is the inclusion of Shafali Verma in the squad. Shafali has not been on the selectors’ radar after her last ODI appearance against New Zealand in October 2024 and was dropped due to inconsistent performances. In her absence, Pratika Rawal partnered with Smriti Mandhana at the top and had a brilliant run of form since her ODI debut against the West Indies in 2024, amassing 703 runs, including a century and 5 fifties, at an average of 54.07 in 14 matches.
Since Pratika has been in exceptional form, the selectors face a tricky decision of choosing the experience and current momentum, weighing whether to reinstate Shafeli Verma or continue backing Pratika Rawal’s consistent performances at the top order. In the recently concluded India A ODI series against Australia, Shafali tried to regain her form, scoring 36, 4, and 52, showing glimpses of her explosive batting but leaving lingering questions about her consistency at the international level.