The India Women's cricket team is poised for a challenging series against England Women, with the latter having historically dominated their exchanges. England has a significantly better record in T20 international encounters against India and specifically in India itself, having won seven out of nine games played on Indian soil.
India's last win against England in a Women's T20I match dates back to 2018, making the upcoming three-match series a substantial challenge for the hosts. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team will aim to break this pattern of defeats and emerge victorious.
Apart from England's overwhelming record, India faces additional hurdles. It marks their first international match since the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka in September 2023. Their last encounter with England was during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in February 2023.
The home conditions could work to India's advantage. However, England's players, familiar with the Indian conditions from their participation in the Women's Premier League, possess insights into Indian players' strengths and weaknesses.
The Indian team will rely on their top-order batting, led by players like Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues, alongside captain Harmanpreet Kaur. In the bowling department, spinners Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque will be closely watched, with the debut of Titas Sadhu in the pace department.
England, on the other hand, faces challenges due to offspinner Charlie Dean's potential unavailability due to illness. The team banks on experienced players like skipper Heather Knight and spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn to counter India's challenge.
Both teams are prepared for the Mumbai series, with the England side having faced Sri Lanka and India coming off successful outings in various tournaments. The matches against England and Australia will provide the Indian team with a benchmark to gauge their standing in the international circuit. Former Mumbai batter Amol Muzumdar, debuting as Head Coach, expects a challenging series and believes it will showcase the team's true capabilities.
(With Agency Inputs)
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