India Women will look to seal the three-match T20I series when they take on England Women in the second T20I on Saturday in Bristol. Riding high after a dominant performance in the opening match, India have enormous confidence, with key players beginning to hit top form at the right time. Smriti Mandhana, captaining India in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, showed exemplary leadership skills, leading from the front in a one-sided contest.
Now, Harmanpreet is expected to return for the Bristol game, which will further solidify India's squad. India's batting unit appears to be finding the rhythm at the right time, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia looking solid in the middle order. They both were instrumental in India's victory in the first game, scoring 69 and 54, respectively. Though Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh failed to contribute in the first match, they are well capable of changing the outcome of the game.
Another positive for India was Nandni Sharma, who announced herself in style with a memorable debut performance, claiming three wickets. Going into the second game, India will look to challenge England in conditions that traditionally favour the home side and clinch a series win. England, meanwhile, know they must bounce back if they are to level the series. Bristol has been a happy hunting ground for the hosts, and they will be determined to make better use of familiar conditions. England would hope that their star performers Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Heather Knight rise to the occasion to help the side level the series.
Head-to-head
Matches - 38
IND-W won - 24
ENG-W won - 12
No result - 2
ENG possible XI: Tilly Kesteven, Liberty Heap, Ariana Dowse (wk), Bethan Gammon, Florence Miller, Joanne Gardner, Sophia Smale (c), Prisha Thanawala, Sophie Munro, Ellie Anderson, Clara Thaker, Maria Andrews
IND-W possible XI: Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Nandni Sharma
