World Cup squads are like wedding guest lists; you’re not going to please everyone. Someone will invariably be omitted, and, in the case of cricket, those omissions often raise as much discussion as the selection. From youngsters to long-time contributors, there are several players who looked to be suited for this opportunity by others, who will instead be watching in the stands. Let’s take the top three most noteworthy omissions of Asha Sobhana, Shafali Verma, and Shreyanka Patil and take a look at what their omission means.
Asha Sobhana
Asha Sobhana
If there’s one thing cricket teaches us, it’s that timing matters. Unfortunately for Asha Sobhana, the timing of her injuries couldn’t have been worse. Having played just two ODIs, she was always on the fringes, but many expected her to be India’s go-to leg-spinner in a home World Cup. After all, a leggie on turning pitches can be pure gold.
India’s selectors picked a pace bowling attack, Sneh Rana and Sree Charani provided the spin bowling, with Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav. Asha unfortunately missed out; that seems to be fitness and experience. That’s a shame—her wicket-taking ability has been evident, and leg-spinners offer something distinct and original that might be missed in the conditions that become slow and challenging.
Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma
Let’s be real—the biggest talking point is Shafali Verma’s exclusion. This is the same Shafali who burst onto the scene as a fearless teenage opener, smashing boundaries with abandon and being hailed as the next big thing in women’s cricket. Fast forward a few years, and inconsistency has become her kryptonite. Across 29 ODIs, she’s averaged just 23 with the bat, and that’s not enough at this level.
Pratika Rawal’s emergence has only made life harder for Shafali. Rawal has brought stability to India’s top order, something Shafali hasn’t been able to offer. To make matters worse, the backup batting spot went to Yastika Bhatia, who doubles up as a wicketkeeper—a versatility Shafali doesn’t provide.
Shreyanka Patil
Shreyanka Patil
If there’s one player who deserves to at least be on the standby list, it’s Shreyanka Patil. Over the last couple of years, she’s shown flashes of being a genuine all-format player—an off-spinner with control, aggression, and the ability to chip in with the bat. Many saw her as a long-term investment, someone India could build around.
It hasn’t been a good year for 2025. A series of injuries kept her out of the WPL and robbed her of form and match practice. While she was reportedly cleared fit before the squad was announced, the selectors opted for a settled combination. A reasonable choice, but one that feels slightly callous. All things considered, Shreyanka’s skillset could be a decent option at home, and her exclusion shows how merciless World Cup selections could be.
So, here’s the million-dollar question: Did India get the balance right, or will these exclusions haunt them when the tournament comes around? Only time will tell, but while it’s unfolding, you can bet fans will debate this within the tournament itself.
FAQs
- Why was Shafali Verma left out of India’s 2025 World Cup squad?
Shafali was dropped due to her inconsistent performances and lack of stability at the top.
- What was the main reason Asha Sobhana missed the squad?
Asha’s injuries and limited ODI experience worked against her selection.
- Why is Shreyanka Patil’s omission considered surprising?
Despite being fit and talented, she was overlooked to maintain the team’s settled combination.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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