Rani Rampal has been dropped from the core probables group ahead of Australia tour

Hockey India has named 35 probables for the national team camp ahead of the tour of Australia in May, leaving out former captain Rani Rampal. Women's team head coach Janneka Schopman said the camp would run from April 9 to May 13, after which the tour of Australia would take place.

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"After the last camp in which we were able to establish our baseline for the needed physical output and addressed individual improvements, we're looking to improve our team structure and tactics. Playing Australia in Australia at the end of this camp will help us assess where we are compared to the top of women's hockey." Head coach Janneke Schopman said.

Rani Rampal is out of the team due to injuries since India's campaign at the Summer Games in Japan. She consequently missed the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2022. Rani Rampal also missed the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, where the Indian women won a bronze medal. During Rani Rampal's absence, goalkeeper Savita Punia stepped up as India's captain. She guided India to a third-place finish at the FIH Pro League 2021-22 and the inaugural FIH Nations Cup title last year, which qualified the Indian women's team for the FIH Pro League 2023-24. Savita Punia continued as the skipper for the Indian women's hockey team despite Rani Rampal's return to the squad.

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Rani Rampal made a comeback when she was selected in the team for the tour of South Africa. Rani played her 250th international match against Belgium in the FIH Women's Pro League last year. Moreover, In the Tokyo Olympics, under Rani's captaincy, the Indian team finished a historic fourth.

Indian women's hockey team core probables group

• Goalkeepers: Savita Punia,  Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Bansari Solanki 
• Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Jyoti Chhatri, Mahima Chaudhary   
• Midfielders: Nisha, Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Monika, Mariana Kujur, Sonika, Neha, Baljeet Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Vaishnavi Phalke, Ajmina Kujur 
• Forwards: Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Sharmila Devi, Deepika, Sangita Kumari, Mumtaz Khan, Sunelita Toppo