BY: Tarunima Singh
NEW DELHI: Riding high on form and depth, the Indian women’s cricket team will look to seal the ODI series against England when they meet in the second match of the three-game series at Lord’s on Saturday. A win will give India an unassailable 2-0 lead and extend their dominant run in the format ahead of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, which they will host later this year.
India edged out England by four wickets in the series opener at Southampton — their fifth consecutive ODI victory on English soil. A series win here would mark another milestone in their impressive build-up to the World Cup, following their tri-series triumph against Sri Lanka and South Africa in May.
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With multiple players stepping up, India’s squad depth is emerging as a positive headache for head coach Amol Muzumdar and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. The competition for spots is fierce, particularly in the bowling and top-order batting departments.
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The Squad
Young pacer Kranti Goud justified her selection over the experienced Arundhati Reddy by claiming two key wickets on debut, sharing the new ball with fellow rookie Amanjot Kaur in the absence of injured stars Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar.
At the top of the order, Pratika Rawal has impressed as Smriti Mandhana’s opening partner, though Shafali Verma remains a strong contender after a stellar run in T20Is, the Women’s Premier League, and domestic cricket. Middle-order dynamics could see Harleen Deol make way if Shafali returns, given the presence of regulars like Harmanpreet, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh.
The spin attack also boasts enviable depth. N Shree Charani, who topped the wicket charts in the preceding T20I series and was named Player of the Series, joins forces with Deepti Sharma, Sneha Rana, and Radha Yadav in a formidable spin unit.
Senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma, fresh off a match-winning half-century highlighted by a stunning one-handed six in the first ODI, will once again be a key player to watch.
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Having already secured a historic maiden T20I series win on English soil, India will aim to cap their tour with an ODI series triumph — a perfect morale booster ahead of the World Cup starting September 30.
Meanwhile, England will be desperate to bounce back and end India’s winning streak. The hosts will need a marked improvement in all departments if they are to avoid a series defeat at home.
