Trisha Ghosal, Taunton
The three-match T20I series against England was always going to be about more than just results. With the T20 World Cup less than two weeks away, it was an opportunity for India to assess combinations, test players in pressure situations and fine-tune plans. While England eventually took the series 2-1, India leave with a few significant positives and a number of concerns that still need addressing before the World Cup begins.
Nandni Sharma: A Star in the Making
If there is one player whose stock has risen dramatically over the course of the series, it is Nandni Sharma.
Thrown into international cricket after a strong WPL campaign, the youngster looked completely at home against one of the strongest sides in the world. Whether it was her slower balls, changes of pace or willingness to experiment with bouncers, Nandni displayed confidence well beyond her years.
With both Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam sidelined through injury, India’s fast-bowling resources have been stretched. Nandni’s emergence could prove invaluable in the months ahead.
Harmanpreet and Deepti Deliver Timely Boosts
India will also be encouraged by the form of Harmanpreet Kaur.
The captain looked increasingly fluent as the series progressed, and her half-century in Taunton was a reminder of how important she remains to India’s T20 ambitions. More importantly, the runs came through clean, authoritative strokeplay.
Alongside Harmanpreet, Deepti Sharma’s batting was another encouraging sign. Long criticised for struggling to accelerate lower down the order, Deepti played two important innings in the series, showing greater intent and composure under pressure.
If India are to challenge for the World Cup, contributions from Deepti with the bat could be just as important as her bowling.
A New Emphasis on Running Between the Wickets
One subtle but important improvement was India’s willingness to run harder between the wickets.
The execution was not always perfect, with confusion and a run-out mixed into the equation, but the intent was noticeable. Against the world’s best teams, boundaries alone are rarely enough. India appeared more willing to push for singles, convert ones into twos and keep the scoreboard moving.
It may seem a small detail, but it could make a significant difference in tight World Cup matches.
The Top Order Still Needs More
For all the positives, India’s biggest concern remains the batting at the top.
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh are among the most influential players in this side. Yet none produced the kind of innings that changes a game.
The issue is not necessarily form. Both Smriti and Shafali have looked fluent at various stages. The problem is conversion. Too many starts ended in scores in the twenties when India needed someone to bat deep and produce a match-defining innings. India’s top six batters crossed 20 on 10 occasions during the series. Of those 10 innings, seven progressed beyond 30, but only three were converted into scores of 50 or more.
The same applies to Jemimah Rodrigues, who looked in excellent touch in the decider before failing to capitalise, departing for 29 off 19 balls.
At World Cups, the difference between 180 and 200 often comes down to one batter converting a start into a substantial score.
Where Is Plan B?
Perhaps the biggest tactical concern from the series was India’s response when momentum shifted.
When Alice Capsey and Heather Knight took control of the chase in Taunton, India appeared short of answers. The partnership was undoubtedly exceptional, but there was little evidence of a fallback plan once the original strategy stopped working.
The best teams adapt quickly when placed under pressure. England did that repeatedly during the series. India struggled to find an alternative route back into the contest, and this has been a pattern with the team for quite some time now.
The series has provided useful preparation and some welcome individual performances. England may have won the series 2-1, but for India, the bigger story is that they head into the final phase of preparations before the World Cup with a few more questions than answers.
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