Women in Blue gears up for must-win encounter against England

Despite back-to-back three-wicket losses to South Africa and Australia, the Indian women’s cricket team remains upbeat as they gear up for a crucial Women’s World Cup clash against England on Sunday. Senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma said the week-long break has been instrumental in allowing the team to regroup, refocus, and build confidence ahead of the high-stakes encounter at the Holkar Stadium.

“We have lost two matches, but our morale is very good because we played two good matches at the start of the tournament. We always go in with a positive mindset and focus more on what we have done well as a team,” Deepti told reporters. With two victories needed from the remaining three league games to keep semifinal hopes alive, the Indian camp is approaching the challenge with optimism and strategic preparation.

Balanced bowling and tactical preparations

India’s five-bowler strategy has come under scrutiny after the absence of a sixth option proved costly in their recent defeats. When asked about possible changes in the playing combination for the England match, Deepti remained cautious, saying, “I can't tell you that. That's the team management's call.” She highlighted the team’s versatility, pointing out that bowlers have stepped up across different phases: powerplay, middle overs, and slog overs. “Everyone has been performing their roles. We have planned well for tomorrow's game,” she added.

Reflecting on conditions at the Holkar Stadium, Deepti noted that the team has closely studied the pitch behavior in previous matches, including the Australia vs South Africa encounter. “The wicket changed a bit in the last 20 overs, so we have prepared accordingly. We are very positive as a team about how we can back each other and execute our plans,” she said.

Confidence from past success and support for skipper

The team drew encouragement from their last ODI series in England, where India clinched a memorable 2–1 victory. Deepti said the experience gives the players an edge heading into the Sunday clash. “The last away series against England gave us a lot of takeaways, and we won there. It’s about applying ourselves on the day. I know their bowling attack and how their batters approach the game, so I try to keep my plans simple,” she explained.

Deepti also expressed her support for captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has yet to make a major impact in the tournament. “The kind of player Harmanpreet is, she can change a game anytime. She’s a match-winner, and we’re supporting her. I’m sure we’ll see her perform tomorrow,” she said, underscoring the team’s collective confidence.

Deepti stressed the importance of learning from each performance. “I always say I learn from every match, whether it’s good or bad. I try to carry forward those learnings into the next game,” she said, reflecting the team’s resilient mindset as they prepare for a decisive showdown with England.

The Holkar Stadium track in Indore offers a balanced surface, assisting both batters and spinners, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat.

Teams:

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.

England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Emma Lamb, Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Linsey Smith, Charlotte Taylor.