Team India is in Manchester for the fourth T20 International of the five-match series against England. Ahead of the fourth T20I against England, the Indian women’s cricket team received a warm welcome at Old Trafford Stadium from Vishakha Yaduvanshi, the Consul General of India in Manchester.
The BCCI Women shared a video on X (previously Twitter), stating, “Stories and inspiration flowed as the Consul General of India, Manchester, Mrs. Vishakha Yaduvanshi, welcomed #TeamIndia at the Old Trafford Stadium ahead of the 4th T20I against England Women.”
While addressing the Indian team, respected Consul General of India Mrs. Vishakha Yaduvanshi said, “You represent the best of India, not only in sports but also in spirits. Your journey is not only about cricket; it is about courage, competence, and breaking boundaries.”
Young girls were also seen welcoming the squad and support staff with flowers inside the hall, taking the opportunity to meet and interact with their sporting idols.
Daniel Gidney, CEO of Lancashire County Cricket Club, who was also present at the occasion, added, “Old Trafford is famous for Sachin Tendulkar’s maiden century, and it has some famous history from men’s cricket moments. We have not hosted a women’s international for over 10 years; now is the time for women’s cricket to make its mark on Old Trafford out there.”
Former England cricketer Jane Powell was also present at the event. In 2023, she made history by becoming the first female president of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. While in a conversation with Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana, she said, “You girls are living my dream; you really are. And I couldn’t be more thrilled (getting to watch them play at the iconic cricket stadium).”
During the interaction, star batter Smriti Mandhana expressed her pride in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), stating, “It’s really proud to see what WPL has done, and if you hear the next generation stories, they actually picked it up by watching a women’s cricket match and not because of their dad or their brother, which is amazing, and that is a huge testimony to what this Indian team has been able to achieve.”
The skipper, Harmanpreet, was also heard saying, “I have got nice teammates. They are very supportive, and the players listen to whatever is being said to them and try to do whatever is best for the team. I want to be a leader where I can keep my team together and give everyone equal opportunity and try to make a team where people want to watch us.”
The head coach, Amol Muzumdar, presented the Indian jersey to the Consul General of India, Manchester, Mrs. Vishakha Yaduvanshi. While the team India captain presented the team India jersey to the CEO of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Daniel Gidney.
India currently leads the five-match T20I series 2-1, having secured a commanding 97-run win in the opener and a 24-run victory in the second match. However, the hosts bounced back in the third T20I, edging past the visitors with a narrow five-run win.
The fourth match of the series is scheduled to take place at the iconic Old Trafford Cricket Stadium in Manchester on July 9, 2025. The visiting Indian team will be eager to secure a win and clinch their first-ever T20I series victory against England on English soil. Meanwhile, the hosts will be aiming to level the series at 2-2 and push the contest to a decisive fifth and final T20I match.
