Trisha Ghosal in Nottingham
The dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup 2026 will commence this evening. India’s women’s team will take on hosts England in a five-match T20I series. India haven’t played a T20I series since December last year. England, on the other hand, are in a rebuilding phase, with Charlotte Edwards and Nat Sciver-Brunt having taken the reins after a shambolic 16-0 loss in the Ashes. This T20I series will be important for both teams—even in an ODI World Cup year.
Players to Watch Out For
Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma doesn’t carry fond memories of England. It was here that her weakness against the short ball was exposed and repeatedly targeted by Katherine Brunt. She’s now making a comeback and would want to utilise the hard yards put in during the domestic season to push for a place in the ODI side too. At the nets yesterday, Shafali had an extended session, facing mostly short deliveries. Towards the end of the WPL season, one could see a more composed Shafali trying to bat deep and finish games. If she can keep her head down and value her wicket, we might just witness the emergence of an even more devastating version of Shafali.
Sophie Ecclestone
Sophie Ecclestone returns after an injury layoff. She missed the West Indies series, which sparked some concerns about her future, but she’s back for this one and ready for the contest. Ecclestone will test the Indian middle order, and this battle could prove decisive. In the nets yesterday, Ecclestone bowled for an extended period, focussing on attacking the stumps and maintaining a tight line.
Amanjot Kaur
In the warm-up game, Amanjot was sent in at No. 3. With Pooja Vastrakar unavailable, Amanjot’s all-round ability becomes even more crucial. She is also making a comeback of sorts. During practice, she worked on her big-hitting and even attempted the reverse scoop with some success. She then moved to the third net for a bowling session, focusing on her loading. Amanjot’s contribution could prove vital if India are to win the series.
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch at Trent Bridge is good for batting. It’s hot in Nottingham, but a constant breeze sweeps across the ground, and batters need to be mindful of hitting against it. Smriti Mandhana and Amol Muzumdar had a detailed conversation with the batting group on this aspect yesterday.
Probable Playing XIs
Smriti Mandhana confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Harmanpreet Kaur is available for selection today.
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, N Sree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud.
England: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Em Arlott, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Issy Wong.
Interesting Observations from the Practice Session
Issy Wong was seen practising bowling round the wicket, beginning her run-up from behind the umpire and approaching the crease at a slant to deliver inswingers from the off-stump line. Was she prepping for India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana?
Interestingly, Smriti didn’t leave the ground with the team. She stayed back for an hour-long gym session after practice, putting in that extra effort.
This promises to be a cracker of a series. Can India gain confidence on English soil, or will England continue to rise under the Edwards–Sciver-Brunt duo? The answers to these questions will unfold over the next few matches.