As the cricketing world’s attention turns towards the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, the Indian women’s team faces a golden opportunity to refine their plans and solidify key positions during the three-match ODI series against England, starting July 16, 2025.
This bilateral series, following India’s historic T20I series win in England, will be crucial for head coach Amol Muzumdar and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as they look to shape their squad for the World Cup, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025.
With India’s previous World Cup campaign in New Zealand 2022 ending at the group stage, a disappointing 5th place finish with just three wins in seven games, the hunger for a home World Cup surge is palpable. Among the plethora of emerging talent, four names stand out as players to watch, whose performances in the England ODIs could prove decisive in the team’s World Cup build-up: Pratika Rawal, Tejal Hasabnis, Amanjot Kaur, and Radha Yadav.
Pratika Rawal: The Emerging Opener Redefining India’s Top Order
Few players have grabbed their opportunities as emphatically as Pratika Rawal. Since her international ODI debut barely seven months ago, the 24-year-old has rewritten the script for India’s opening options. Her numbers are eye-catching: 638 ODI runs at a blistering strike rate of 89.85 and a stunning average of 63.80, in addition to five half-centuries and a maiden century. The highlight, a masterful 154 off 129 balls against Ireland at Rajkot on January 15, 2025, cemented her reputation as an anchor who can accelerate.
What sets Rawal apart is her ability to convert starts and her fearless approach at the crease, which has temporarily, and perhaps decisively, kept the explosive Shafali Verma out of the XI. Her four wickets at 36.75, albeit in a supporting bowling role, add further value. With another strong showing versus an experienced English attack, Rawal could virtually seal her ticket as India’s first-choice opener for the World Cup, shaping the team’s aggressive powerplay blueprint on home soil.
Tejal Hasabnis: The Steady Middle Order Contender
India’s search for solidity and flexibility in the middle order introduces Tejal Hasabnis as a compelling candidate. Since her ODI debut against New Zealand in October 2024, the 27-year-old has tallied 140 runs at an average of 46.66 (strike rate: 78.65) in 6 matches, punctuated by an unbeaten 53 off 46 balls against Ireland. Though her international experience is limited, Hasabnis has showcased maturity under pressure and an ability to rotate the strike, critical in the middle overs, especially on slower subcontinental pitches.
For Hasabnis, the England series could be a make-or-break World Cup audition. With the World Cup on the horizon and India seeking the right mix of reliability and firepower at No. 4 and 5, her composure and hunger to cement a World Cup berth will be closely scrutinised. Expect her to play a pivotal role in India’s middle overs, both against spin and pace.
Amanjot Kaur: The Dynamic All-rounder on the Rise
The modern game’s demand for multi-dimensional cricketers brings Amanjot Kaur into sharp focus. A 24-year-old batting all-rounder, Amanjot made her mark in T20Is before debuting in ODIs against Bangladesh in July 2023. While her ODI batting stats (78 runs at 11.14, SR: 61.41 in 8 innings) have yet to catch fire, her bowling has been more impactful, 12 wickets at 25.75 with an economy of 5.83 in 8 matches, including a standout 4/31 (9-2-31-4) against Bangladesh.
Amanjot’s 2025 resurgence was visible in the T20I series against England, where she struck 75 runs at a strike rate of 153.06 and chipped in with 3 wickets. Her improved bowling control and ability to accelerate with the bat make her an appealing candidate for the seam-bowling all-rounders’ slot, one of the key areas India seeks to strengthen ahead of the World Cup. Her performances in the coming ODIs could tip the scales in her favour as a mainstay in the team’s all-round contingent.
Radha Yadav: The X Factor Spinner with All-round Prowess
Radha Yadav, at 25, remains a fascinating enigma in Indian cricket. Her ODI wicket tally in the last couple of years, 8 wickets in 6 innings at 31.87 (economy: 4.84), may not leap off the page, but her best, a 4/69 against New Zealand last October, showed her wicket-taking potential. More recently, her T20I exploits in England, 6 wickets (joint-third highest in the series) at an impressive average of 17.16 and economy of 6.43, underscore her resurgence and rhythm.
With the World Cup on the subcontinent’s spin-friendly tracks, the tussle for the second spinner’s berth alongside Deepti Sharma is intensifying. Radha’s left-arm spin, excellent fielding, and lower-order batting value make her a complete package. The ODIs against England present a timely opportunity to reclaim her spot and build confidence ahead of the mega event.
The upcoming ODIs against England are more than just bilateral fixtures; they are a crucible for India’s World Cup aspirations. The performances of Pratika Rawal, Tejal Hasabnis, Amanjot Kaur, and Radha Yadav will not only determine individual places but also help solve the puzzle around India’s optimal combination, particularly in the top order, all-round department, and spin attack.
For a nation dreaming of World Cup redemption on home turf, these matches offer a glimpse into the future. If these four can grasp the moment, they may well become the cornerstone of India’s charge towards ODI glory later this year. Keep an eye on the upcoming ODI fixtures as India’s World Cup dress rehearsal begins soon.
