By :- Shruti Tiwari
The Indian women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is set to kick off its preparations for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with a high-stakes five-match T20I series against England. The series begins this Saturday and will serve as a crucial opportunity for the team to adapt to English playing conditions and assess its squad depth ahead of next year’s global tournament.
A Crucial Build-Up for Team India
India’s campaign holds added significance as the team failed to advance beyond the group stage in the last T20 World Cup. With the next edition of the tournament just under a year away, this tour of England provides the perfect setting to fine-tune strategies, experiment with combinations, and understand how different players perform in varying conditions.
The tour also includes a three-match ODI series following the T20Is, giving India additional exposure to England’s pitches and weather — both of which are expected to play a major role in team selection and performance.
Opening Duties: Will Shafali Make a Comeback?
India’s explosive opener Shafali Verma is back in the squad and is likely to open alongside Smriti Mandhana, given Uma Chetry’s underwhelming performances in recent matches. Team management is keen to analyze how Indian batters cope with the seam and swing that English conditions often offer, especially early in the innings.
Young talents like Kranti Gaur, Shri Charani, and Sayali Satghare have also been included, providing India with fresh options as they look to build a strong bench for the future.
Spotlight on Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur
This will be India’s first T20I of the year, and a lot of attention will be on off-spin all-rounder Sneh Rana and pace-bowling all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, both of whom are making their return to the squad. Rana, in particular, will look to carry her confidence from a strong Women’s Premier League (WPL) season into the international arena.
However, the team will miss the services of experienced pacers Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, both ruled out due to injuries. Their absence opens up opportunities for emerging bowlers to step up.
England’s Star-Studded Line-Up
England, under the captaincy of Nat Sciver-Brunt, will be a formidable opponent. The squad includes seasoned campaigners like Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and the world’s top-ranked T20I bowler, Sophie Ecclestone.
The hosts also boast young and exciting talent in Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, and Issy Wong — all of whom have the ability to turn the match on its head. India, having lost both warm-up games ahead of the series, will need to be at their best from the very first ball.
Key Players for India
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh will be crucial to India’s chances. The team will look to these experienced players to lead from the front in both batting and fielding departments.
Squads
India Women:
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shri Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaur, Sayali Satghare.
England Women:
Nat Sciver-Brunt (Captain), Mahika Gaur, Tammy Beaumont (wk), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones (wk), Paige Scholfield, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Issy Wong.
What to Watch Out For:
- How India’s young guns perform under pressure.
- The effectiveness of Indian spinners on English soil.
- Batting consistency from India’s top order.
- England’s pace and spin attack vs India’s middle order.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, this series could play a defining role in shaping India’s campaign and solidifying its core group of players. Cricket fans can expect a thrilling contest as two top teams go head-to-head in conditions that demand the best from every individual.