No captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Smriti Mandhana went for a golden duck. Hard-hitting Shafali Verma got out in the first over as well. Yet, the Indian women’s team recorded a handsome win over England at Chelmsford. Who would’ve thought this?
With the T20 World Cup just over two weeks away, India could not have asked for a better start to their preparations. Powered by brilliant half-centuries from Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia, followed by a dream debut from pacer Nandani Sharma, India defeated England by 38 runs in the opening T20I of the three-match series.
After being reduced to 7/2 in the very first over, India somehow managed to post 188/7. England, despite a fighting 67 from Amy Jones, never really threatened the target and finished on 150/8. That India’s 188 total is still 20 runs less than what they should’ve scored. For a team missing its regular captain and several first-choice combinations, it was a confidence-boosting win.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia rescue India from disaster
England could not have hoped for a better start after winning the toss. Lauren Bell struck twice in the opening over. Smriti Mandhana, leading the side in Harmanpreet’s absence, chipped the very first ball of the innings straight to cover. Shafali Verma followed six deliveries later after skying a catch to mid-on as she was cramped from the room.
At 7/2, everyone thought India would now play a catching up game. They would rebuild before slowly getting to attack. Instead, Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues produced one of India’s finest T20I partnerships in recent years. In fact, after seven years, India’s No. 3 and No. 4 racked up half-centuries together in a women’s T20I.
Playing her first T20I in over two years and returning after knee surgery, Yastika looked completely at ease. She counterattacked from the outset and punished England’s loose bowling. Her maiden T20I fifty came off just 31 deliveries as India crossed the 100-run mark inside 10 overs. Although she lost her momentum in the end, her blaze started India’s innings with aplomb.
At the other end, Rodrigues was elegance personified. She rotated strike effortlessly, found gaps regularly and punished anything loose. Her fifty came with a towering straight six and she never allowed England’s bowlers to settle. She guided some incredible strokes, found gaps with awesome wrist work.
Together, the pair added 126 runs for the third wicket in just 76 balls. By the time both batters departed in quick succession, India had completely wrestled control of the match.
Rodrigues finished with a classy 69 off 40 balls while Yastika scored 54 off 40 deliveries. Their partnership turned what looked like a below-par total into a match-winning one. India lost wickets in the closing overs, but Deepti Sharma’s quickfire 22 off 13 balls and a useful contribution from Arundhati Reddy ensured the visitors finished with an imposing 188/7.
A brilliant start to the tour!
Scorecardhttps://t.co/TfetjAsf3e#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/Ay6JmTdDTL
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) May 28, 2026
Nandani Sharma’s dream debut seals England’s fate
England’s chase never really got going. The experimental opening pair of Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley failed to deliver as India struck early. England found themselves at 37/2 and once again had to rely on Amy Jones.
Promoted to No. 3, Jones looked in superb touch. She found boundaries regularly and stitched together a 64-run partnership with Heather Knight, who became the most capped female player in England’s history with 310 appearances. For a brief period, England looked ahead.
But debutant Nandani Sharma had other plans.
The 24-year-old pacer produced a memorable spell when India needed a breakthrough. First, she dismissed Jones for 67 as Shafali Verma completed a catch in the deep. Then, on the very next ball, Dani Gibson holed out to leave Nandani on a hat-trick. Although Charlie Dean survived the hat-trick ball, Nandani wasn’t done. Two deliveries later, she deceived Issy Wong with a slower ball that crashed into the stumps.
Her figures of 3/34 effectively ended England’s hopes. The hosts never recovered from the mini-collapse and eventually fell 38 runs short. For India, this victory will taste sweet. Yastika’s successful comeback, Rodrigues’ return to top form and Nandani’s dream debut have given the team valuable answers ahead of the T20 World Cup.
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