India Women's pre-T20 World Cup checklist: Key areas to fix in England series

India’s preparations for the Women’s T20 World Cup have seen a mix of highs and lows. They started strongly with a 5-0 series win over Sri Lanka at home last December, before travelling to Australia and securing a historic 2-1 series victory, their maiden series win there in a decade. Shreyanka Patil made a strong impact on her return, delivering a Player of the Match performance in the series.

However, momentum dipped soon after as India endured a difficult tour of South Africa, losing the series 1-4 in a disappointing campaign where the team struggled for consistency.

With that behind them, attention now turns firmly to the future and the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup. Before the tournament, India will play a three-match T20I series against England, followed by two warm-up matches.

While the setback against South Africa may have unsettled the side, Harmanpreet Kaur’s India still have valuable opportunities ahead to settle combinations, regain rhythm, and fine-tune their squad ahead of the global event.

Here are the key areas India Women need to focus on in the T20I series against England as they build up to the T20 World Cup.

GIVE NANDNI SHARMA A FULL GO

Now that Nandni Sharma has earned her maiden India call-up, there is little value in keeping her on the bench during the T20I series against England. Even if she is not currently in India’s first-choice pace plans for the World Cup, she should be given opportunities across all three matches to build exposure and experience.

With the possibility of injuries always present, one of the three pacers: Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Goud, or Arundhati Reddy could be unavailable at some stage, making it important that backups are match-ready. Kranti Goud’s impact against England last year is a reminder of how quickly young bowlers can step up when given the chance.

Nandni has already shown strong pedigree in the WPL, where she impressed for Delhi Capitals by dismissing top international names such as Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning. While she went wicketless against the ECB Development Women’s XI on Monday, her spell remained disciplined, conceding just 18 runs in three overs.

With clear potential and proven ability, India now have an opportunity to properly prepare Nandni Sharma for the demands and pressure of a World Cup campaign.

LET RADHA, YASTIKA EASE BACK

The England series is also an opportunity to assess the form of Radha Yadav and Yastika Bhatia. Radha, India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is, is making a return after nearly a year on the sidelines. During her absence, Shree Charani cemented her place in the squad after winning the Player of the Series award on her T20I debut series against England last year.

However, Radha’s value extends beyond her bowling. She is widely regarded as one of India’s best fielders, having taken several outstanding catches over the years. She has also added depth with the bat, highlighted by her maiden WPL fifty and her match-winning runs for RCB in the final, underlining her ability to contribute in pressure situations.

Yastika Bhatia, meanwhile, remains the backup wicketkeeper to Richa Ghosh. She was part of the ODI World Cup squad before an injury ruled her out, and she also missed WPL 2026. The left-handed batter will be keen to regain match sharpness ahead of the World Cup and is also a viable backup option as an opener if needed.

On Monday, Yastika showed encouraging form against the ECB Development Women’s XI, scoring 47 off 35 balls with six fours. However, international cricket presents a different challenge, and the England T20I series will be crucial in giving both Radha and Yastika valuable game time before the World Cup.

INDIA FAST BOWLING NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

India’s fast bowling came under scrutiny during the series against South Africa, where the attack struggled to maintain consistency. Laura Wolvaardt capitalised on the loose bowling as Kranti Goud, Renuka Singh Thakur, and Arundhati Reddy leaked runs at crucial stages.

Arundhati endured a difficult series, managing just one wicket in four matches at an average of 123, while Renuka and Kranti also struggled to find their rhythm. With conditions in England expected to assist seam bowling, India’s pace unit will need to be far more disciplined and alert from the outset. However, there are positives to draw on.

Kranti Goud’s five-wicket haul at Chester-le-Street last year remains a strong confidence booster, while Arundhati Reddy’s three wickets against the ECB Development Women’s XI should help lift her morale. Renuka Singh Thakur, meanwhile, continues to pose a threat with her ability to swing the ball both ways.

If the trio finds its rhythm early, they could pose serious problems for opposition batters. There were also concerns around Deepti Sharma’s form, but her five-wicket haul against South Africa provided timely relief. Overall, India still possesses the depth and resources to bounce back strongly with the ball.