Following their groundbreaking 3-2 T20I series triumph against England, the Indian women’s cricket team is brimming with confidence as they gear up for a three-match ODI series, kicking off on Wednesday. With the ODI World Cup looming on home soil later this year, Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad is eager to sharpen their 50-over skills.
India’s recent form in ODIs has been impressive, having clinched the Tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa in May with commanding scores of 276, 275, 337, and 342. “Our focus in ODIs has been to consistently target 300-plus totals,” said captain Harmanpreet. “It gives our bowlers a cushion and allows us to experiment with strategies, like using four spinners, as we did in the T20Is.”
The batting line-up is a powerhouse, led by Harmanpreet and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, with young star Pratika Rawal stepping up after becoming the fastest woman to reach 500 ODI runs during the Tri-series. Supported by Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, and lower-order hitters like Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur, India’s batting depth is formidable.
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However, injuries to pacers Titas Sadhu, Renuka Singh, and Pooja Vastrakar pose challenges for the bowling unit. Arundhati Reddy will spearhead the pace attack, backed by Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, and Sayali Ganesh. The spin department, featuring Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, and Deepti Sharma, remains a key strength, offering control and wicket-taking nous.
England, meanwhile, welcome back captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who missed the last three T20Is due to a groin injury, and world No. 1 ODI bowler Sophie Ecclestone, returning after a knee injury. Their squad, including Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, and Charlie Dean, promises a tough contest.
Teams:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare.
England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith.
The match starts at 5:30 PM IST, setting the stage for a thrilling clash as India aim to build momentum for the World Cup.
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