THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Shafali Verma has been officially called up to replace the injured Pratika Rawal and is available for selection in the semi-final against Australia in the Women’s ODI World Cup.
However, her inclusion in the starting XI is not confirmed yet, with substantial debate on whether India will risk playing her given her lack of recent ODI match practice and preference for the T20 format.
Pratika’s solid and consist performances demonstrating excellent front and back foot play and dependable defence, made her a key opener. Her injury is a big loss and India may consider sticking with a safer makeshift option like Amanjot Kaur or promoting Harleen Deol.
This injury has exposed India’s team selection for not having more specialist openers in the squad.
Shafali Verma’s Strengths and Limitations
Shafali is known for her flamboyant batting and ability to attack bowlers, which suits the T20 format more.
Her defense is noted as a weakness in ODI cricket, and she has not played ODIs for India since October 2024, though her recent domestic and India A form is impressive, including a strong WPL season.
Selection in the semi-final will depend on whether India opts for her X-factor over the stability that Pratika brought, especially given India’s middle-order struggles and the pressure of a knockout match.
Opener Options and Team Selection Debate
Amanjot Kaur opened alongside Smriti Mandhana in the last league match following Pratika’s injury but is not a natural opener and her performance was steady but unspectacular.
There has been criticism for not having a backup opener in the squad, and although Harleen Deol is a candidate to open, she has usually batted at number 3, causing confusion over why she wasn’t promoted to the opening slot.
Former players and commentators have highlighted the risk and uncertainty surrounding both Shafali’s inclusion and the makeshift solutions, underscoring India’s selection headaches going into the semi-final.
Pratika Rawal’s Impact and Team Dynamics
Pratika accumulated 308 runs in six innings at an average of 51.33, showing strong defensive technique and versatile aggression, forming one of the tournament’s best opening partnerships with Mandhana.
Her sudden exit due to injury presents a tactical dilemma, with India needing to balance continuity with the potential impact of a riskier but more aggressive option like Shafali.
Why Harleen Deol Wasn’t Promoted
The decision not to promote Harleen Deol from number 3 to opener remains unclear and has drawn criticism, with suggestions that the selectors did not foresee the necessity for a backup specialist opener and may have assumed flexibility in the lineup that hasn’t materialized.
Given these factors, Shafali Verma’s inclusion would be a bold move driven by her attacking capabilities, but India must weigh her lack of ODI practice and defensive frailties against the gamble of using Amanjot Kaur or disrupting the batting order further by changing Harleen Deol’s role.
