As anticipation builds for India’s campaign against England, a challenging tour comprising five T20Is and a three-match ODI series from June 28 to July 22, 2025, the spotlight shone on vice-captain Smriti Mandhana during the pre-match press conference.
With the Women’s T20 World Cup looming just a year away in England, Mandhana’s measured optimism and clarity of vision offered a compelling window into the team’s mindset, preparation, and ambitions.
Mandhana was quick to acknowledge what’s at stake, especially with the World Cup set to be played in similar English conditions next summer. “I’m sure these five T20Is will be a good prep for a lot of the girls and for us to also see the conditions and how they all suit their game too,” she reflected.
The decision to arrive in England a week early, paired with targeted batting and bowling camps at the NCA in Bangalore, was, according to Mandhana, “good and ideal” preparation.
For a squad featuring fresh faces like Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani, both on their maiden England tour, this deliberate acclimatisation period could prove pivotal. “It was important for them to come here early and get used to the conditions,” pointed out Mandhana, highlighting India’s commitment to meticulous groundwork.
One of the big talking points is India’s pace attack. With Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar, and Titas Sadhu out injured, Arundhati Reddy steps into the lead seamer’s role alongside Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, and Sayali Satghare. Mandhana radiated excitement about the blend of youth and experience, “Young talent, whenever they come in, it’s always very exciting. Everyone’s been prepping up well, trying to do everything right, and what better place than England to come to as a pacer?”
This series, then, is more than just a rehearsal; it’s a test of depth, resilience, and adaptability, especially for new entrants who’ve been honed in the crucible of domestic cricket and the Women’s Premier League. The pace-friendly English surfaces present an ideal platform for India’s emerging seamers to make their case less than 12 months before the World Cup, which will take place in June–July 2026.
Mandhana’s candour about the T20 format’s demands was striking. “There’s a lot of scope for improvement. It’s a format which you have to keep improvising and keep improving because the other teams keep planning against the way you bat,” she admitted. Her approach? Keep it simple, one ball at a time. Yet, beneath that simplicity lies a finely tuned cricketing mind always scanning for tactical edges.
With captain Harmanpreet Kaur temporarily sidelined due to illness (but not ruled out for the opener), Mandhana’s presence at the press conference underlined both her stature and the importance of leadership continuity. The vice-captain’s earnest assurance that team plans remain undisturbed projects confidence and unity, key ingredients for a successful tour.
India’s white-ball tour of England isn’t just about chasing victories, though those matter equally; it’s about learning, adaptation, developing a pool of players, and peaking for next year’s global event on these very shores. The five-match T20I series offers a rich canvas for both established stars and rising players to make a statement, under the guidance of a composed, insightful leadership group involving the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana.
As the players take the field at the start of a demanding month-long tour, Indian fans can expect not only spirited contests but also vital dress rehearsals for the biggest stage in women’s cricket. For Harmanpreet Kaur and her team, this English summer could well be the crucible in which a World Cup dream is forged.
