IND vs ENG Women’s 1st T20I: Women in Blue in focus in English conditions

India women will be keen to internalise the conditions and character of venues in England ahead of next year’s World Cup here during the five-match T20I series against the host, beginning with the opening game at Trent Bridge on Saturday (June 28, 2025).

The ICC showpiece is almost a year away, but this series is a perfect stepping stone after India’s disappointing group-stage exit from last year’s edition.

The return of explosive opener Shafali Verma apart, India has added some new names, such as Kranti Goud, Shree Charani and Sayali Satghare, into the squad.

Shafali, in all likelihood, will be paired with Smriti Mandhana at the pole position. This is India’s first T20 assignment of the year, and the return of Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur will be keenly watched.

India will miss the experience of injured pacers Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar. The visitor lost both its practice matches — a 50-over and a T20 game — to the ECB Development Squad, and will be up against a formidable team led by the talismanic Nat Sciver-Brunt.

The host has several experienced stars in its ranks, such as Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Danny Wyatt-Hodge and Sophie Ecclestone. Along with them, England will also field talented youngsters like Issy Wong, Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley.

In that context, India will require its premier batters, including Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti, Shafali, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh to be in their groove.

Harmanpreet might also have regained her confidence after guiding Mumbai Indians to its second WPL title. However, India will welcome some more runs from its lower-order to shore up the team in critical moments.

Teams

England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (Capt.), Em Arlott, 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.

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt.), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-capt.), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare.

Match starts at 7 p.m. IST.