Harmanpreet Kaur’s Team Gears Up for England: A Fresh Return and Key Absentees
India’s women’s cricket fans are waiting for the England tour, set to kick off on June 28, and the national squad announcement has stirred plenty of chatter. India women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur will lead both the T20I and ODI squads, with the ever-consistent Smriti Mandhana as her deputy. But what’s grabbing headlines is the return of opener Shafali Verma after her seven-month battle with injury. Her comeback injects some much-needed firepower at the top of the order, especially in the T20 format she thrives in.
The T20I squad, built around an experienced core, brings back familiar names like Jemimah Rodrigues and wicketkeepers Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia. India's selectors have also leaned on all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana to provide control in the middle overs. Alongside the reliable Harleen Deol, new faces such as Sree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay signal that the selectors are thinking ahead, not just hunting for immediate wins but future stability too.
Shafali’s Comeback, Injuries, and What’s at Stake
It’s hard to overstate what Shafali Verma’s return means. Before injury put her on the sidelines, she was India’s most aggressive T20 opener, taking down bowlers from the world’s best. Having spent months rehabbing a tricky injury, her selection sends a clear sign—India is aiming to boost its strike rate and put pressure on England’s bowlers right from ball one.
But the squad also has some stitches missing. Renuka Singh, the team’s swing specialist, is out due to injury, as are Kashvee Gautam and Shreyanka Patil. That puts extra responsibility on the likes of Amanjot Kaur and Arundhati Reddy to plug the gaps in both T20 and ODI formats.
The ODI squad sticks with a strong core but throws in some fresh talent, like Pratika Rawal and Tejal Hasabnis. These new names could be game-changers if they rise to the occasion. With the clock ticking towards big ICC tournaments, this tour gives the team a key window to experiment and lock in the best combinations.
- T20Is: Five-match series at iconic grounds—Trent Bridge, Bristol, The Oval, Old Trafford, and Edgbaston—from June 28 to July 7.
- ODIs: Three games, starting at Southampton on July 19, moving to London on the 22nd, and ending at Chester-le-Street on July 25.
This England tour is a crucial pressure test for Harmanpreet’s side. For veterans, it’s another shot at stamping their authority. For rookies, it’s the first taste of high-stakes international cricket. One way or another, expect some fireworks—especially with Shafali Verma hungry to make up for lost time.
