Colombo gives vital lifeline to IND, but ENG match still needs to be won

Team India’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the 2025 World Cup have improved significantly, after the New Zealand vs Pakistan match in Colombo was a failure. This means the White Ferns have 3 points from five matches, while India have four from four. So a win against England on Sunday might just seal the deal for them, not officially, but practically.

And therefore, this match against England is much more important. India, who remain a decent team based on what they showed in the World Cup, have a lot to prove. That they can beat any side in the world. And for that, they need to put their house in order.

Indian team needs six bowling options

Although the bowling unit has been largely good, the team simply cannot rely on five bowlers. After a while, this ploy becomes monotonous and a single partnership can hamper all the good work of the bowlers – which was the case even in the South Africa encounter. A bowler may have an off day – and a replacement is essential.

Against SUA, Sneh Rana made 85 runs that day, and India did not have the luxury of using another bowler. So, it would still be a difficult decision to know who to sit out, but it would still have to be made. It could be either Harleen Deol or Jemimah Rodrigues for Renuka Thakur or Radha Yadav.

The Charlotte Edwards Postman

England head coach Charlotte Edwards coached MI in the WPL until recently, where Harmanpreet Kaur was the skipper, while Nat Sciver-Brunt happens to be her VC. So, the current ENG coach and the captain know the mindset of the Indian team very well. So it is only right that Harmanpreet surprises the English.

Perhaps, from a hitter’s point of view, the best ploy will be to achieve a no. 3 herself instead of Harleen Deol. She can bowl at a better pace than the latter, who is sometimes guilty of reducing the run-rate after the fall of a wicket.

Bowlers must come to the party

For two consecutive matches, Indian bowlers have failed en bloc. They had SA against the wall, then against AUS they also had their good chances. But then, somehow, they failed to be effective to such an extent that they took all 10 wickets; and this is the requirement of the modern game. To beat a top team, you have to pack them together, especially when you are defending a total.

Full squads

Indian women’s team: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (week), Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Uma Chetry.

England women’s team: Amy Jones (week), Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlotte Dean, Em Arlott, Sarah Glenn, Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge.