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The India women’s white-ball tour of England begins with a five-match T20I series, starting on Saturday, June 28, 2025. This tour is a crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup, scheduled for later this year in India. The T20I series will be followed by a three-match ODI series, concluding on July 22. Harmanpreet Kaur is leading the Indian side, while Nat Sciver-Brunt is the captain for England. Ahead of the T20I series, here are five key player battles to watch out for in the shortest format series between England and India.
Top 5 key battles to watch out for in the ENG vs IND Women’s T20I series
1. Smriti Mandhana vs Sophie Ecclestone
- This is a classic battle between two of the world’s best in their respective crafts. Smriti Mandhana, the elegant left-handed opener for India, is known for her graceful strokeplay and her ability to score quickly in the powerplay. She has a strong record in England, averaging over 29.38 in T20Is. Her confidence will be high after a good warm-up innings of 47 against an ECB XI, which included 10 fours, showing her form with the red ball and her ability to adapt to English conditions. Her battle against Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s number one ranked T20I bowler, will be a treat to watch.
- Ecclestone, a left-arm orthodox spinner, is a master of control and deception. She can spin the ball both ways and is a difficult bowler to get away, especially in the middle overs. Her return to the squad after a break is a massive boost for England. Mandhana’s aggressive approach will be tested by Ecclestone’s tight lines and lengths. The key for Mandhana will be to not let Ecclestone settle, but she will also need to be wary of the spinner’s wicket-taking ability. In their T20I encounters, Mandhana has a decent record against Ecclestone, but the spinner has managed to dismiss her once, showcasing the tight contest they share.
2. Shafali Verma vs Lauren Bell
- This is a fascinating matchup between a dynamic, attacking batter and a fast, accurate bowler. Shafali Verma, the young Indian opener, is a fearless batter who loves to take on the bowlers from the first ball. Her power-hitting ability is unmatched, and she can single-handedly change the course of a match in a few overs. Her recent form in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where she was the leading Indian run-scorer, has earned her a recall to the squad. Facing her will be Lauren Bell, England’s right-arm fast-medium bowler, who has been a consistent wicket-taker for her team.
- Bell’s strength lies in her pace and ability to hit the deck hard, generating bounce that can trouble batters. Shafali’s aggressive mindset against Bell’s pace and discipline will be a great contest. If Bell can pitch the ball up and get it to swing, she could pose a serious threat to Shafali. For Shafali to succeed, she will need to be careful with her shot selection and not go for an aerial shot too early in the innings.
3. Nat Sciver-Brunt vs Amanjot Kaur
- This battle will be a test of skill and a clash of all-rounders. Sciver-Brunt is a world-class all-rounder who can dominate with both bat and ball. She is a powerful middle-order batter, known for her ability to play big shots and finish games. Despite being unlikely to bowl in the series due to an Achilles injury, her batting form is scintillating, as shown by her 523 runs in the WPL. Facing her will be Amanjot Kaur, a talented Indian all-rounder. While she is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who can provide useful breakthroughs, her primary role will be to restrict the runs in the middle overs.
- She has the ability to swing the ball and can be effective with her variations. The challenge for Amanjot will be to contain Sciver-Brunt’s aggressive hitting. Sciver-Brunt’s experience and power will be a massive challenge for the younger Amanjot. The key for Amanjot will be to bowl in the right areas and not give Sciver-Brunt any width to free her arms. In their WPL encounters, they played for the same team, making direct head-to-head stats unavailable, but their performance against each other in this series will be a crucial turning point for the teams.
Also READ: India’s best XI for the Women’s T20I series against England
4. Danni Wyatt vs Arundhati Reddy
- This is a fascinating battle between an experienced opener and an experienced pacer looking to make her mark once again. Danni Wyatt is a fiery and destructive top-order batter for England who loves to score quickly from the start. She has two T20I centuries to her name and is known for her clean hitting. Her ability to capitalize on the powerplay overs is crucial for England’s success. She will face Arundhati Reddy, a right-arm medium-fast bowler from India who has been recalled to the squad.
- Reddy’s strength is her ability to bowl with a decent pace and bowl a tight line and length. The key for Reddy will be to get her line and length right against the aggressive Wyatt. Wyatt has shown her vulnerability to the swinging ball, so if Reddy can get the ball to move, she could cause some problems for Wyatt early on.
5. Harmanpreet Kaur vs Charlie Dean
- This is a classic captain-versus-spinner duel. Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian captain, is one of the most powerful strikers of the ball in women’s cricket. She has the ability to hit sixes at will and is a master at chasing down big totals. Her form in the recent WPL, where she led Mumbai Indians to the title, will give her immense confidence. She will be up against Charlie Dean, a right-arm off-break spinner for England.
- Dean is a smart bowler who can bowl with great control and can deceive batters with her flight and turn. Her ability to take wickets in the middle overs is a massive asset for England. The key for Harmanpreet will be to use her feet and try to disturb Dean’s rhythm. If she can get on top of Dean, it could put a lot of pressure on the English bowling attack. However, if Dean can keep Harmanpreet quiet and force her into a mistake, she could be a game-changer for England. This battle will be a tactical one, as Harmanpreet will look to score big and dominate, while Dean will try to outfox her with her variations and control.
Also READ: England’s best XI for the Women’s T20I series against India
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
