The Indian Women’s team couldn’t have asked for a better start to their five-match T20I series in England. In the series opener, they delivered a near-flawless performance to crush a formidable English side by 97 runs — their largest-ever margin of victory against England in T20Is. Now, with momentum on their side and confidence running high, India Women will look to tighten their grip on the series when they step onto the field for the 2nd T20I at the County Ground, Bristol, on Tuesday, July 1.
Led by Smriti Mandhana in the absence of regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, India turned in a commanding all-round display in the opener. Mandhana herself led from the front with a breathtaking maiden T20I century, while debutant N Shree Charani produced a magical four-wicket haul that dismantled England’s middle order. It was a statement win, a performance that made India’s intentions clear: they’re here not just to compete — they’re here to dominate.
As the series heads to Bristol, all eyes are now on whether India can build on this performance and take a 2–0 lead, or whether England will bounce back with fire of their own on home soil.
India’s Dream Start: Mandhana’s Masterclass, Charani’s Debut Delight
Smriti Mandhana: The Captain Who Led With a Bat Made of Fire
With Harmanpreet Kaur sitting out due to a minor injury, Smriti Mandhana had the responsibility of leading the side. And lead she did — with poise, authority, and aggression. Her innings of 103 off just 61 balls was a masterclass in T20 batting. Elegant drives, ferocious pulls, cheeky scoops — Mandhana unfurled her full repertoire against an England bowling unit that had no answers.
She became only the second Indian woman after Harmanpreet herself to score a T20I hundred. Her knock laid the foundation for India’s formidable total of 187/4, and more importantly, sent a strong message — India’s batting no longer relies on one or two stars. It’s a unit packed with flair and intent.
Sree Charani: From Debutant to Destroyer
Every once in a while, a debutant steps into the limelight and announces themselves with such impact that you can’t help but take notice. N Shree Charani did exactly that. In her very first international outing, the 21-year-old picked up 4 wickets with her clever changes of pace and skiddy deliveries that kept the England batters guessing.
Her spell broke the backbone of England’s chase, reducing them from 72/2 to 93 all out. Calm under pressure, charismatic in celebration — Charani has already become a fan favorite, and rightly so.
England: Shocked, But Not Sunk
A Wake-Up Call at the Right Time?
England Women were thoroughly outplayed in the first T20I. Their bowling was listless, their batting collapsed under pressure, and their fielding lacked intensity. But if there’s one thing this team knows how to do — it’s bounce back. Under the leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt, they’ve faced setbacks before and responded with fire.
The challenge now will be to regroup, assess what went wrong, and turn things around quickly. They are still a team stacked with match-winners — Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, Sophia Dunkley, and Alice Capsey — all capable of flipping a game within a few overs.
India vs England: T20I Head-to-Head
While India won the opener in style, England still enjoys a dominant record historically:
Matches Played | England Wins | India Wins | No Results |
---|---|---|---|
31 | 22 | 9 | 0 |
That’s over twice as many victories for England, a reminder of their long-term dominance in this format. But India’s recent form suggests that the gap is narrowing fast.
Match Details – 2nd T20I
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Match: England Women vs India Women – 2nd T20I
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Date & Time: July 1, 2025 | 11:00 PM IST | 5:30 PM GMT | 6:30 PM Local
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Venue: County Ground, Bristol
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Live Broadcast & Streaming: Sony Sports Network (TV), SonyLIV (App)
Pitch Report: County Ground, Bristol
The County Ground is known to favor batters with its true surface and even bounce. Stroke-makers tend to enjoy batting here, and the relatively short boundaries make it a high-scoring venue.
However, this doesn’t mean bowlers are out of the game. Smart bowlers who can use the surface and mix up their pace — like Deepti Sharma or Sophie Ecclestone — can make a significant impact. Pacers, especially with the new ball under lights, can also extract early swing.
What to Expect:
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First innings score of 160+ is par
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Captain winning the toss might prefer batting first
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Bowlers will need to use angles and variations wisely
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Spinners will come into play in the second half
Probable Playing XIs
India Women
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Smriti Mandhana (c)
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Shafali Verma
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Jemimah Rodrigues
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Richa Ghosh (wk)
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Deepti Sharma
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Harleen Deol
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Amanjot Kaur
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N Shree Charani
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Sneh Rana
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Radha Yadav
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Arundhati Reddy
Unavailable: Harmanpreet Kaur (injury – day-to-day decision)
England Women
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Danni Wyatt-Hodge
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Sophia Dunkley
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Alice Capsey
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Nat Sciver-Brunt (c)
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Amy Jones (wk)
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Paige Scholfield
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Charlie Dean
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Sophie Ecclestone
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Lauren Bell
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Em Arlott
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Linsey Smith
Key Inclusion Watch: Issy Wong could return in place of Lauren Filer for extra pace.
Players to Watch
Smriti Mandhana (India)
Fresh off a century, she’s in red-hot form. If she gets going again at Bristol, India could easily post a match-winning score.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
The skipper is England’s heartbeat — a dynamic batter and a smart bowler. Expect her to lead the fightback.
Sophie Ecclestone (England)
Currently the world’s No. 1 T20I bowler, she’ll be crucial in stifling India’s middle order.
Deepti Sharma (India)
India’s most consistent all-rounder over the last few years. Her economy rate and wicket-taking ability are vital in the middle overs.
N Shree Charani (India)
All eyes will be on the sensational debutant. Can she produce another spell of magic?
Dream11 Fantasy Picks: EN-W vs IN-W 2nd T20I
Wicketkeeper:
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Richa Ghosh – Explosive finisher with the bat, sharp behind the stumps.
Batters:
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Smriti Mandhana
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Shafali Verma
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Danni Wyatt-Hodge
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Sophia Dunkley
All-Rounders:
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Nat Sciver-Brunt
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Deepti Sharma
Bowlers:
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Sophie Ecclestone
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Lauren Bell
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Em Arlott
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N Shree Charani
Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:
Option 1:
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Captain: Smriti Mandhana
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Vice-Captain: Nat Sciver-Brunt
Option 2:
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Captain: N Shree Charani
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Vice-Captain: Sophie Ecclestone
Backups/Substitutes:
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Sneh Rana
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Harleen Deol
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Paige Scholfield
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Linsey Smith
What’s at Stake?
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For India:
A win here will give them a 2-0 series lead, with just three matches remaining. It also reinforces their growing dominance in white-ball formats abroad — something that’s eluded them for years. -
For England:
They simply cannot afford another collapse. A loss would not only put the series in jeopardy but also spark concerns over depth and execution under pressure.
Final Word: Can the Women in Blue Continue Their Surge?
The first T20I was a performance that Indian fans will remember for a long time. It wasn’t just the margin of victory — it was the manner of it. Controlled aggression, smart bowling changes, sharp fielding — everything clicked.
But the beauty of a five-match series is that it gives teams a chance to come back, regroup, and rewrite the script. England, wounded and proud, will look to do just that in Bristol.
India, however, will want to turn the screw, ride the confidence wave, and continue showing the world that this is a new era for Indian women’s cricket — an era of assertiveness, swagger, and winning abroad.
Will Mandhana’s brigade soar again? Or will Sciver-Brunt’s England roar back into the series?
Come Tuesday night, under the Bristol lights — we’ll have our answers.
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