India's 15-member squad for the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 has been announced, and the biggest surprise is the snubbing of opener Shafali Verma. The selectors have preferred young batter Pratika Rawal, who has impressed with 703 runs at a whopping average of over 54 since making her debut last year. She will open with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. The team welcomes back pace spearhead Renuka Thakur, who returns after a lengthy injury layoff. Thakur, out with a foot injury since the WPL, will return in September in the three-game ODI series against Australia, just before the World Cup. Pace allrounder Amanjot Kaur has been included in the World Cup team as well but will miss the Australia ODIs to keep working on a back niggle. She is replaced by Sayali Satghare in the series. Jemimah Rodrigues will make her debut ODI World Cup after missing out in 2022. Harleen Deol, Amanjot, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, and Kranti Goud, who took a six-wicket haul against England recently, are the other first-time World Cup players. Also Read | Six and gone! Dewald Brevis suffers early exit in his debut ODI Even with coach Amol Muzumdar's support, Shafali failed to get her spot following fluctuating performances in recent tours. Middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis and Satghare also fail to make World Cup cuts following minimal chances. India will initially play Australia in three ODIs from September 14 to 20 at Mullanpur and Delhi. They open their World Cup title defence on September 30 against Sri Lanka with expectations of an impressive outing on home turf. India Women squad for World Cup 2025 Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice Captain), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK) and Sneh Rana