India Women's cricket team, fresh off two commanding victories, prepares to face a strong South Africa side in a crucial ICC Women's T20 World Cup Group 1 match. The contest is expected to highlight India's powerful top order against South Africa's varied bowling, with both teams aiming to build momentum and address fielding improvements.
Former cricketer Reema Malhotra believes the Indian women's cricket team is a strong contender to win the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, largely because of its strong spin bowling resources.
In a dramatic twist ahead of the Women's World Cup semifinal, India have recalled Shafali Verma to the ODI setup after more than a year, following an unfortunate injury to in-form opener Pratika Rawal on Monday.
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on Saturday said India will play an "aggressive brand of cricket" against Australia in the must-win Women's T20 World Cup match in London.
Chief coach Amol Muzumdar lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their historic 270-run Test victory over England at Lord's, attributing the success to a blend of 'patience mixed with the right amount of aggression' and highlighting centurion Yastika Bhatia's 'special knock' and pacer Kranti Gaud's 'controlled line and length'.
Opener Shafali Verma smashed a quickfire half-century as India women thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second T20 International in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
India have announced their 15-player squad for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales, beginning June 12. Uncapped Nandini Sharma and wicketkeeper batter Yastika Bhatia have been drafted into the squad, while Pratika Rawal has been excluded. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the squad, with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.
India will be desperate to overcome their fielding and batting woes when they take on six-time champions Australia in their final Group A clash at Lord's, in London, on Sunday.
The Indian women's cricket team will be looking to address their middle-order concerns in the final T20 International against England, aiming for a series-clinching victory ahead of the T20 World Cup.
'The only thought was that we have to give it all in those seven hours for our country.'
Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana and Renuka Singh Thakur, who were part of India's ODI World Cup triumph last month, attended the morning prayers.
Vice-captain Smriti Madhana, who ended her lean patch with a fluent 80 in the fourth T20I, retained her third position in the rankings, while Jemimah Rodrigues slipped one place to 10th.
Shafali was leading Haryana in National Women's T20 when she was summoned from Surat to Mumbai on SOS after Rawal sustained a hairline fracture on her ankle while fielding in the last group league game against Bangladesh.
Batter Pratika Rawal has been added to India's women's cricket squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, marking her return after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the World Cup.
Kranti Gaud announced herself on the Test stage with a stunning maiden five-wicket haul, while Smriti Mandhana's unbeaten fifty put India firmly in control against England.
I didn''t do well in semis, and only I know how I spent the nights until WC final: Shafali Verma
Harmanpreet Kaur admits being concerned over India's over-rate during fourth T20I
Shafali Verma claimed a hat-trick for Haryana against Karnataka in the pre-quarterfinal of the Women's Under-23 One-Day Trophy in Guwahati.
Richa Ghosh produced a breathtaking late assault but India's brittle top-order batting proved costly as Dani Gibson's sparkling all-round show powered England to a narrow five-run win in their final Women's T20 World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Shafali Verma smashed 176 runs at a strike rate of 158.56 during the T20I series against England to jump four spots to ninth place with 655 points.
Deepti Sharma starred with a five-wicket haul as India thrashed Pakistan by 64 runs in their Women's T20 World Cup opener in Birmingham.
South Africa defeated India by nine wickets in the third women's T20 International, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Laura Wolvaardt's century led the charge, overshadowing India's highest-ever total against South Africa.
India's young left-arm spinner Sree Charani has risen to the top of the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings after an impressive start to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
South Africa defeated India by six wickets in the opening match of the Women's T20 series, with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading the charge. India's batting lacked momentum, and their bowling attack struggled with indiscipline, allowing South Africa to comfortably chase down the target.
India's recent run of victories has bolstered confidence but the women's selection panel, headed by Neetu David, will face some tricky questions on the inclusion of Shafali Verma and pacer Renuka Thakur when it meets in Mumbai on Tuesday to pick the squad for the ODI World Cup.
India has been eliminated from the Women's T20 World Cup after a six-wicket defeat to Australia at Lord's. Despite a strong batting performance led by Harmanpreet Kaur, Australia successfully chased down India's target of 171, with Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner scoring crucial half-centuries. This marks India's second consecutive group-stage exit from the tournament.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma struck well-timed fifties but regular strikes helped England bundle out India for 285 on the opening day of the one-off women's Test at Lord's on Friday.
India stayed alive in the Women's T20 World Cup with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh. Here's how Harmanpreet Kaur's side can qualify for the semi-finals, with Australia and South Africa still in the equation.
India head into the Women's T20 World Cup with questions over their bowling attack, top-order form and squad balance. Harmanpreet Kaur's side will need key players to deliver if they are to challenge for another ICC title.
Indian opener Shafali Verma rewrote history books today, smashing the fastest double century in women's Test cricket.
Indian bowlers spun a web around Pakistani batters to kick-off their Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a winning start in Birmingham on Sunday.
A look at the key batters to watch at the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales, highlighting their recent form and potential impact on the tournament.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur rued missing opportunities in the field which played a huge role in India's crushing six-wicket defeat against South Africa in Women's T20 World Cup Group A match.
Freya Kemp's outstanding all-round performance propelled England to a 26-run victory over India in the second Women's T20 International, levelling the three-match series.
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma guided India to a historic 52-run victory over South Africa which saw the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 hosts lift the trophy for the first time.
Arundhati Reddy's 4/22 and Shafali Verma's cameo power India to a 21-run DLS win over Australia in the opening Women's T20I in Sydney.
Hard-hitting opener Shafali Verma, who made a comeback to the national side recently, has revealed that she watched videos of Sachin Tendulkar's Test knocks to keep herself motivated when she was ignored by the selectors.
Australia beat India by six wickets in the first Women's ODI in Brisbane, with fifties from Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney, and Ashleigh Gardners 3-33 sealing a 1-0 series lead despite Mandhana and Harmanpreet's efforts.
Kamalini, Vaishnavi earn maiden ODI call-ups; Shreyanka, Fulmali return to T20I squad
Shafali Verma and Jess Jonassen smashed half-centuries as Delhi Capitals handed Royal Challengers Bengaluru a fourth consecutive defeat with a commanding nine-wicket win.
