With the India-Ireland series around the corner, the spotlight is on the Indian women’s cricket team to maximize their opportunities and deliver strong performances. An insider from the BCCI has reportedly said that the players are picked for the national team based on their talent and potential, but how they utilize those skills in crucial match situations determines their true impact.
According to the New Indian Express report, the BCCI source has emphasized that once players make it to the Indian women’s cricket team, it is up to them and the team management to maximize the opportunities they are given at the highest level. He also revealed that the BCCI is not happy with Arundhati Reddy and Shafali Verma’s snub.
The exclusion of the star pacer Arundhati Reddy from the recent home series, despite her consistent performances in white-ball cricket, has raised many eyebrows. The insider labeled the move as “an error in timing,” saying many were wondering about the reason behind Reddy’s omissions.
BCCI criticizes Harmanpreet Kaur’s remarks, questions leadership approach
Adding to the drama, Harmanpreet Kaur’s cryptic response to questions about the exclusion of Arundhati Reddy and Shafali Verma has raised eyebrows. When asked about their absence ahead of the West Indies series, the India Women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t show any responsibility and said that she was not the right person to answer, which reportedly irked the BCCI and selectors.
Harmanpreet Kaur had said at a press conference recently, “I can only talk about the team; the team is here, and what (all) things we can do to win this series. Regarding Shafali or any other player, it is better to ask the right persons.”
Harmanpreet Kaur’s response did not sit well with the BCCI, as the board felt the Indian captain could have handled the question more diplomatically. He criticized captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s remarks, stating they reflected poorly on leadership, especially from an experienced captain, and suggested a more thoughtful response could have upheld the team’s integrity.
The insider added, “The captain saying, ‘Ask the right people,’ was not correct. She could have answered that in a better way. It doesn’t reflect well on the team and leadership.”
Shafali Verma needs to improve her fielding to make a comeback to the Indian women’s cricket team
Meanwhile, Shafali Verma has been in stellar form, emerging as the highest run-scorer in the Senior One-Day competition and dominating the Challenger Trophy with 273 runs in just three matches. Despite being dropped from the ODI series against Australia, her performances have kept her in the spotlight.
But the BCCI source revealed that while her batting has been exceptional, she needs to improve her fielding to retain her place in the Indian women’s cricket team. The source stated, “Shafali is performing well in these competitions, but she needs to work on her fielding.”
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India Women likely to have separate teams for white-ball cricket
With the ODI World Cup 2025 on the horizon, India Women needs a game-changing all-rounder. The source also highlighted the need for having the two white-ball formats for better focus and clarity if they want to win the ICC tournaments. The BCCI insider added, “If you want to win the ICC trophies, you at least need an all-rounder who can take the game away.”
The insider signed off by saying, “No one has won the World Cup without someone playing that role. Take, for example, the 2011 men’s team that won the World Cup. They had Yuvraj Singh doing that job. Who can take that job for this team? Maybe now it is time for us to have different teams for different formats. It is the right time. One day and Tests are different, and you cannot play like T20s in those games.”