ENG vs IND, 1st T20I: Here’s why Harmanpreet Kaur is not playing today’s match

The first of the five-match T20I series between England Women and India Women kicked off on Saturday (June 28) at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, with a significant change in the Indian camp. Regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur was surprisingly absent from the playing XI, with star opener Smriti Mandhana stepping in to lead the side.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence in the first ENG vs IND T20I

The reason for Kaur’s absence was confirmed as a precautionary measure following a head injury sustained during the T20 Warm-up match against ECB Select XI.

The news came shortly after England won the toss and elected to field, a decision that might have been influenced by the overcast conditions or the absence of India’s seasoned skipper. Kaur, a pivotal figure in India’s T20 setup renowned for her explosive batting and astute leadership, is currently under close medical observation. Reports from the team management indicate that she is recovering well, and the decision to rest her for the series opener is purely to ensure her full fitness for the remainder of the tour.

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Kaur’s absence leaves a substantial void in the middle order and deprives India of her vast experience and match-winning capabilities in the crucial opening encounter of the India Women’s tour of England 2025. Her aggressive stroke play and ability to accelerate the scoring rate in the death overs have been hallmarks of India’s T20 success. Moreover, her tactical acumen on the field will be sorely missed, presenting a significant challenge for stand-in captain Mandhana.

ENG vs IND: Playing XI of both teams

England Women: Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Em Arlott, Lauren Filer, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell

India Women: Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani

Also READ: ENG vs IND – Top 5 key battles to watch out for in the Women’s T20I series

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.