Image: Harmanpreet Kaur confident of Shafali Verma's return to form after ODI exclusion / © Telegraph India
With the upcoming ODI Series against Australia Women, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed confidence in Shafali Verma’s ability to regain her form after being dropped from the squad. Shafali, an aggressive opening batter, was excluded from the three-match series due to a recent dip in performance.
Harmanpreet acknowledged Shafali’s past contributions to the team and emphasized that the team is eager to see her return to her best. In the statement given, she said:
She (Shafali) is a very important player for us and has done exceptionally well for the country. We are looking forward to seeing her get back into her zone and perform well for the team.
The series, which starts in Brisbane, is seen as a key opportunity for India to prepare for the 2026 ODI World Cup. Harmanpreet also mentioned that the team aims to maintain the momentum from their 2-1 series win over New Zealand, though adapting to Australian conditions will be a challenge.
The Indian captain highlighted that the team’s goal is to identify and develop players who can excel in home conditions for the upcoming World Cup, giving opportunities to emerging talents.