Harmanpreet Kaur is set to lead India for the first time in the Women’s World Cup with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.
While regulars like Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh have made it to the main squad, Harleen Deol and Amanjot Kaur have been rewarded for their consistent performances in the last two years.
Shafali Verma’s exclusion from the squad was the other big headline.
ALSO READ | Past champions face reinvention test at 2025 ODI Women’s World Cup
Here’s everything you need to know about the squad:
Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
Coach: Amol muzumdar
Latest ICC rankings (we pass on 23rd) – #2
Best finish at the ODI World Cup: Runner-up (2005, 2017)
Form (W/L record) since the last World Cup: (38 games played: W:25 | L: 11 | T:1) (This will be updated after today’s game)
INDIA’S SQUAD FOR THE WOMEN’S ODI WORLD CUP 2025
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.
Reserves: Tejal Hasabis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Uma Chetry, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare
STRENGTH
India enters the 2025 ODI World Cup with a formidable and refreshingly settled batting order. Shafali Verma’s axing has forced Smriti Mandhana to unlock a new attacking gear, much to her opponents’ chagrin. India has shown that it can up the tempo at will and has been able to unlock scores of 300-plus with ease. India also has one of the strongest spin attacks in this World Cup, with the experienced Deepti, Sneh Rana, and gutsy youngsters like N.
Sree Charani in the ranks.WEAKNESS
Despite developing a promising pace-bowling unit, India remains somewhat thin in the seam department. Renuka Singh’s return from injury brings with it the inevitable concern of ring rust. Arundhati Reddy is diligent but can be expensive, while Amanjot Kaur still carries fitness concerns. Kranti Goud has been a revelation, yet none of these options offers India the reassurance of genuine express pace.
OPPORTUNITY
Smriti Mandhana’s purple patch bodes well for India ahead of the home World Cup. Her century against Australia in India’s last bilateral before the tournament saw her bring an uncharacteristic T20-esque brutality to one-day batting which makes India’a batting like twice as impregnable. This World Cup also presents Harleen Deol with the chance to make the number three position her own. If she can address her strike-rate concerns, she will add further weight to India’s pursuit of its ‘300-plus in every ODI’ mantra.
ALSO READ | Arundhati Reddy injured during warm-up match against England
THREAT
While India’s woeful fielding continues to pose problems, the bigger issue is its frequent inability to see plans through. Faced with 413-run target against Australia, India began in dominant fashion, with the Aussies gasping for air for nearly half the chase. But, as it often has in the past, India lost the plot. Add to that the pressure of a home World Cup. There’s barely any margin for error. Additionally unfamiliar ‘home’ venues grates away much of the advantage that comes with being a host.
PREDICTION
This is one of India’s strongest World Cup squads in recent times. The side has shown it can give strong teams a run for their money. On home soil, this is India’s World Cup to lose. One should expect nothing less than the final from the co-host.
Published on Sep 26, 2025
