India have strengthened their women’s ODI team ahead of the upcoming series in Australia, with batter Pratika Rawal earning a return to international cricket after a lengthy injury layoff. Fully recovered from an ankle and knee injury that sidelined her during last year’s World Cup, Rawal has been added to the squad for the three-match ODI series starting February 24 in Brisbane.
The decision was confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which stated that Rawal has successfully completed her rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and is match-fit. The injury occurred while she was fielding in the last league World Cup fixture against Bangladesh in October, forcing her out of the knockouts. India, however, went on to script history by lifting the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 title for the first time, with Rawal watching from the sidelines as the team surged to glory.
The ODI series against Australia will serve as a crucial bridge between the ongoing T20I leg where India currently lead 1- 0 and the one-off Test scheduled to begin on March 6 in Perth. Following the opening ODI in Brisbane, the remaining two matches will be played in Hobart on February 27 and March 1.
Although Rawal has already been named in the Test squad, her inclusion in the ODI side opens the door for an earlier international comeback. The 25-year-old has made a strong impression in the 50-over format since her debut in December 2024, scoring 1110 runs in 23 innings at an average of 50.45, with two centuries and seven half-centuries to her name.
Before injury halted her momentum, Rawal had enjoyed a solid World Cup campaign, registering scores of 37, 31, 37, 6 and a commanding 122. Her consistent performances at the top of the order were a key factor behind her earning a Grade C central contract earlier this month.
India’s updated ODI squad features a blend of experience and youth, led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain. The side also includes Shafali Verma, who replaced Rawal during the World Cup and played a pivotal role in the final with a match-winning all-round performance.
With Rawal back in contention, India gain added depth and stability as they prepare for a challenging phase of their multi-format tour Down Under.
India women squad for ODIs in Australia:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, N Shree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal
