As soon as India announced an 18-member squad for the Women’s ODI World Cup, set to be held in New Zealand in March and April 2022, much of the focus among fans shifted towards two notable exclusions – Shikha Pandey and Jemimah Rodrigues.

32-year-old Shikha, a crafty seamer with 119 international wickets, and Rodrigues, the blazing 21-year-old top-order batter, failed to make it to the squad that saw an infusion of youth alongside a core of experienced veterans. Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh and Yastika Bhatia, all of whom made their international debuts in 2021, were handed a spot.

The tournament will act as a swansong for Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, two of India’s most experienced most players – Mithali will captain the side while Harmanpreet Kaur will be her deputy. Notably, the announcement was done via a press release, with no press conference following it.

Not long after the announcement, and the reactions that followed, reports emerged suggesting that Pandey and Rodrigues had been excluded “due to underwhelming performances in the format in the recent past”. It is to note that neither of them made it to the standby list as well.

India’s squad for the 2022 World Cup: Mithali Raj (C), Harmanpreet Kaur (VC), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav.

Standby Players: Sabbhineni Meghana, Ekta Bisht, Simran Dil Bahadur.

The same squad will also play a five-match ODI series in New Zealand.

Soon after the squad was announced, there were plenty who took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction over the two notable exclusions:

Massive, massive surprises! No Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey for the Women’s World Cup 2022 and the New Zealand tour before that. What is happening!? #CWC22 #WCWC22

— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) January 6, 2022

Not sure how you can drop Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey from the World Cup squad. Either we have unearthed a goldmine of talent suddenly, or there has been a mistake

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) January 6, 2022

India have not picked Shikha Pandey for a ODI World Cup to be played in New Zealand.

Jemimah Rodrigues is also out.
As is Punam Raut while Ekta Bisht is in back-up.

Gambles aplenty from last edition's finalists, going for a largely young & inexperienced squad. https://t.co/D0njlSo0Dm

— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) January 6, 2022

Woah! India drop Jemimah & Shikha Pandey from the World Cup squad?

That's big. Don't think leaving out Jemimah is the right call.

— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) January 6, 2022

Baffling to see that both Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey are absent from India Women’s ODI World Cup squad. Both players have done so well of late that it doesn't make sense to leave them out. What is the reason? Are they injured? As usual, no clarity in BCCI release..

— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) January 6, 2022

Shikha Pandey dropped? The feeder system must be brimming with talent that’s impossible to ignore. It’s shocking to say the least.

— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) January 6, 2022

BCCI have made a conscious decision to wake up and choose inexperience. Where's Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey? I know at least Jemimah's not carrying an injury. So why? https://t.co/9hmqJm3jLn

— Anil Dias (@aniljdias) January 6, 2022

I’m only wondering what awfully went wrong in order for both Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey to be in the reserves, too… It’s a World Cup we’re talking about and not just any other bilateral series! #WCWC2022

— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) January 6, 2022

The BCCI also announced the squad for a one-off T20I, to be played on February 9:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, S. Meghna, Simran Dil Bahadur.