Shafali Verma Returns To T20I Side For England Tour, Fit-Again Yastika Bhatia Also Comes Back

Attacking opener Shafali Verma on Thursday returned to India colours after a gap of seven months as she was included in the national T20I squad for the five-match away series against England, starting from June 28 in Trent Bridge. Shafali was out of the Indian team from October 2024 on account of modest form but she could not find a place in the ODI squad for the three-match series against England, which was also announced on this day. Perhaps, her fine outing in this season's Women's Premier League (WPL) for Delhi Capitals where she aggregated 304 runs from nine matches at a strike-rate of 152.

In fact, she was the fourth highest run-getter in the WPL behind Nat-Sciver Brunt, Elyse Perry and Hayley Matthews and the highest run-maker among the Indian batters.

Another player to make a comeback was wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia, who was sidelined since last November due to a wrist injury sustained during the Women's Big Bash League.

Unlike Shafali, Yastika is a part of the ODI squad as well. Besides Yastika, the other wicketkeeper in both the squads is Richa Ghosh.

While India named a 15-member T20 team, the ODI squad consists of 16 players and both the teams will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, who will be assisted by Smriti Mandhana.

Young opener Pratika Rawal, who created history by becoming the fastest batter in history to score 500 runs in Women's ODIs in the Tri-Series in Sri Lanka recently, has been included in the 50-over side.

Rawal broke the record of England's Charlotte Edwards, who slammed 500 ODI runs in nine innings, while the Indian achieved the feat in eight matches.

The tour of England will start with five T20Is followed by three ODIs at Southampton, London and Chester-le-Street, starting from July 15.

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