The stage is set for a thrilling finale as India Women and England Women gear up for the third and final ODI of the India tour of England, with the series tantalisingly poised at 1-1. Both sides will be eager to clinch the series and make a statement in this fiercely contested rivalry.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will look to build on their recent form and resilience, while England, under the leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt, will hope to draw strength from their historical dominance and home advantage. With pride and momentum on the line, the decider promises to be a gripping showdown.
Fantasy Picks XI: India Women v England Women – 3rd ODI
Wicketkeeper
Amy Jones
Amy Jones remains a cornerstone of England’s ODI setup for this tour, contributing consistently both with the bat and behind the stumps. In the second ODI, she scored an unbeaten 46*, laying the foundation for chasing the total and guiding her side to victory. Across 85 ODI innings, she has scored 2,435 runs at an average of 32.90, registering 14 half-centuries and 2 centuries, including a career-best 129. Known for her reliability in the top order, Jones also excels as a wicketkeeper, with sharp reflexes and tactical awareness. In the ongoing series, her glovework has stood out, underlining her importance as a dual-threat player and a key asset in England’s white-ball plans.
Batters
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana stands tall as one of the most prolific and elegant batters in women’s ODI cricket. A master of timing and touch, the left-hander has amassed 4,543 runs in 104 ODIs at a remarkable average of 46.35 and a strike rate of 87.87. Her tally includes 11 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a career-best 136 against South Africa in June 2024. Mandhana holds the distinction of being the fastest Indian woman to reach 4,500 ODI runs and the first to notch up 10 ODI hundreds—a testament to her dominance at the top of the order. In the second ODI of the ongoing series, she once again showed her class with a composed 42 off 51 deliveries, anchoring India’s innings in challenging conditions.
Tammy Beaumont
Tammy Beaumont remains a pillar of England’s ODI batting lineup, known for her technical finesse and remarkable consistency. With 4,526 runs in 121 ODI innings at an average of 41.52 and a strike rate of 76.43, she holds the record for the most ODI centuries by an English woman: 12 hundreds alongside 23 half-centuries. Her highest score, an unbeaten 168*, stands as a testament to her ability to anchor and dominate innings. Earlier this summer, she and Amy Jones made history as the first opening pair in ODI cricket, across both men’s and women’s formats, to score back-to-back centuries in a series. In the second ODI of the current series, Beaumont contributed a fluent 34 off 35 balls, forging a steady 54-run opening stand that laid the foundation for England’s eight-wicket DLS win.
Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues displayed her trademark composure and touch in the opening ODI, scoring a fluent 48 off 54 balls and playing a vital role alongside Deepti Sharma in a match-defining 90-run stand that anchored India’s successful chase. Known for her ability to rotate strike and hold the innings together, Jemimah has emerged as a dependable force in India’s middle order. With 1,389 runs in 47 ODI innings at an average of 32.30, including a career-best 123, she continues to grow in stature. However, in the second ODI, she couldn’t replicate that rhythm, falling cheaply for just 3—a rare blip in her otherwise consistent run. Jemimah Rodrigues is all set to play her 50th ODI Match tonight.
All-rounders
Nat Sciver-Brunt
Nat Sciver-Brunt continues to set the benchmark for all-rounders in women’s ODI cricket. From 107 ODI innings, she has amassed 3,994 runs at a stellar average of 45.90 and a brisk strike rate of 95.39, including 9 centuries and 24 half-centuries, with a career-best of 148*—a performance that underscores her dominance with the bat. Equally effective with the ball, she has claimed 79 wickets at an average of 31.27 and an economy of 4.42, with best figures of 4/59. In the second ODI of the ongoing series, she added a steady 21 off 25 balls, guiding England to a comfortable eight-wicket victory—once again highlighting her composure and value under pressure.
Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma once again showcased her all-round prowess, proving instrumental in India’s lineup with both bat and ball. In the first ODI, she played a match-defining role with the bat, anchoring the chase with a composed unbeaten 62* off 64 deliveries and stitching a crucial 90-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues. Her ability to absorb pressure and steer India home earned her the Player of the Match award. Though she went wicketless in both games so far, Deepti’s consistency with the bat continued in the second ODI, where she remained unbeaten on 30*, offering stability from the lower order. In her ODI career, Deepti has taken 135 wickets in 92 innings with best figures of 6/20 and an economy of 4.21. She has also amassed 2,392 runs, including a career-best 188, underlining her status as one of the game’s most dependable all-rounders.
Alice Davidson-Richards
In the opening ODI, Alice Davidson-Richards delivered a composed and crucial 53 off 73 balls, anchoring England’s lower-middle order and helping lift the side to a competitive total. Known for her calm temperament and ability to forge important partnerships under pressure, she once again proved her worth as a dependable finisher. Though primarily a seam bowler, Davidson-Richards continues to impress with the bat. In her brief ODI career, she has already scored 125 runs in just 5 innings, with this half-century being her career-best. With the ball, she has taken 7 wickets, including standout figures of 3/35, showcasing her growing reputation as a reliable all-rounder for England.
Bowlers
Sneh Rana
Sneh Rana was at her clinical best in the opening ODI, delivering a tight spell of 2/31 that effectively stalled England’s momentum during the middle overs. A consistent performer with the ball, she has now claimed 47 wickets in 34 ODI innings, with best figures of 5/43 and an economy rate of 4.58. In the second ODI, she chipped in with another wicket despite challenging conditions. Rana also brings depth with the bat, having scored 222 runs in 23 innings, including a top score of 53*—a reminder of her all-round utility. Her dual-role reliability makes her a vital cog in India’s ODI strategy.
Sophie Ecclestone
Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s premier left-arm spinner, continues to underline her status as a game-changer for England. In the opening ODI, she bowled with trademark control to return figures of 1/34, and chipped in with a brisk 23 off 19 balls to lift England’s total late in the innings. She followed that up with a clinical 3/27 in the second ODI, playing a central role in England’s series-levelling win. With 124 wickets in 73 ODI innings at a stunning economy of 3.69 and best figures of 6/36, Ecclestone is not just a strike bowler but a pressure specialist. Having now crossed 300 international wickets across formats, her impact with both ball and bat makes her a cornerstone of England’s white-ball setup.
Charlie Dean
Fast-tracked into the England setup at just 20, Charlie Dean has swiftly established herself as a key component of the ODI squad. A crafty off-spinning all-rounder, Dean has already claimed 75 wickets in 43 ODI innings at an economy of 4.65, with best figures of 5/31. In the opening match of the series, she delivered a crucial 2/52, breaking partnerships and applying pressure in the middle overs. She followed that with a tidy 1/31 in the second ODI, showcasing her consistency once again. Dean’s ability to bowl under pressure and maintain disciplined lines continues to make her one of England’s most reliable spin options.
Kranti Goud
Kranti Goud may be new to the international stage, but she’s already making her mark. After debuting against Sri Lanka in Colombo, she impressed in just her second ODI with figures of 2/55 against England in the series opener. Despite an economy of 6.23, her ability to strike under pressure highlighted her temperament and promise. She followed that up with another crucial wicket in the second ODI, sharing the breakthrough honours with Sneh Rana. With 3 wickets in 3 matches and a best of 2/55, Goud is quickly emerging as a dependable option in India’s evolving pace attack.
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