India Women’s landmark tour of England in 2025 has sent ripples through the women’s cricket world. Clinching both the T20I and ODI series on English soil, the team’s performance was not just about the scoreboard but also marked significant growth across batting, bowling, and fielding departments.
Here are the top three positive takeaways from the tour:
Spin Bowling: The Cornerstone of India’s Success
India’s spin bowlers proved once again to be the team’s match-winners. Shree Charani led the wicket-taking charts in the T20Is with 10 wickets, with Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, and Sneh Rana providing vital support. Together, they applied tight pressure, controlling the middle overs and breaking crucial partnerships.
In the fourth T20I at Manchester, Charani’s 2 for 30 and Radha’s 2 for 15 helped restrict England to 126 for 7, enabling a comfortable chase and sealing India’s first-ever T20I series win in England.
The spinners’ mastery in English conditions dismantled England’s batting lineup repeatedly, proving decisive in both series and underscoring India’s growing strength in variety and skill in their bowling attack.
All-Round Performances and Emerging Young Talent
India’s balance was evident in all departments. In the first ODI at Southampton, Jemimah Rodrigues played a vital role with scores of 48 and 50 in the ODI series, notably forming a crucial partnership with Deepti Sharma during the chase in the first ODI. Deepti’s composed 62 not out helped India successfully reach the target under pressure.
In the series-deciding third ODI, captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored a commanding 102, anchoring the innings. She was well supported by Jemimah Rodrigues (50) and Harleen Deol, who contributed a valuable 45 runs, with both sharing an important partnership that steadied the innings at a critical juncture.
Among the young stars, Shree Charani stood out by winning the Player of the Series award in the T20I format, taking 10 wickets and consistently troubling England’s batters with her accurate and clever spin bowling. Another young player, Kranti Goud, demonstrated India’s promising future in the absence of senior pace bowlers. The ODI series witnessed the emergence of 21-year-old Kranti Goud, who stunned with a career-best 6 for 52 in the series decider, a performance that helped clinch the series 2–1.
The blend of youth and experience allowed India to adapt to various match situations, showing resilience and maturity that bodes well for upcoming international challenges.
Significantly Improved Fielding Raises the Team’s Overall Standard
Fielding had long been viewed as a weak point for the Women in Blue, with experts often highlighting a lack of athleticism, particularly in ground fielding, as a persistent issue. However, that narrative appeared to shift significantly during this series against England. Throughout the tour, India demonstrated a marked increase in on-field confidence and agility. Once criticised for inconsistent fielding and limited mobility, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led squad seems to have made substantial progress.
Fielding coach Munish Bali revealed that the team undertook intensive drills aimed at enhancing players’ speed and overall athleticism. Working closely with a fitness trainer, this focused approach is already yielding positive results.
India’s fielders not only took several crucial catches but also excelled in saving valuable runs through improved ground fielding. Their sharpness in the field created sustained pressure on the opposition, often leading to breakthroughs.
Enhanced fielding added an extra dimension to India’s performances, tightening pressure on England and complementing their bowling attack perfectly. This newfound agility and alertness played a pivotal role in India’s success and contributed significantly to their historic 3–2 T20I series win and 2–1 victory in the ODI series on English soil.
Here are the three areas of concern from the tour:
Top-Order Inconsistency and Batting Collapses
Despite India’s strong batting lineup, the top order showed inconsistency, particularly in the second ODI at Lord’s, where India faltered to 143/8 in 29 overs. Key players like Pratika Rawal (3), Harmanpreet Kaur (7), Jemimah Rodrigues (3), and Richa Ghosh (2) failed to convert starts, succumbing to England’s spinners. This collapse highlighted a vulnerability against spin and an inability to stabilise the innings under pressure, which could be a concern against quality bowling attacks in the upcoming World Cups.
Fielding Lapses in Key Moments
While India’s fielding was generally a strength, especially in the T20I series, there were notable lapses in the ODI series. In the first ODI, India dropped crucial catches, including those of Sophia Dunkley and Alice Davidson-Richards, who went on to score 83 and 53, respectively, helping England post a competitive 258/6. These fielding errors allowed England to recover from early setbacks, putting additional pressure on India’s bowlers and nearly costing them the match. Improving consistency in fielding will be critical for India in high-stakes tournaments.
Injury Concerns and Lack of Pace Bowling Depth
India faced significant challenges due to injuries to key pace bowlers, including Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar. This left India with limited pace bowling options, particularly evident in the third ODI, where Kranti Goud was the sole pacer. Despite Goud’s sensational 6/52, the lack of other fit pacers exposed India’s vulnerability. Goud’s historic six-fer, making her the youngest Indian pacer to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs at 21 years and 346 days, was a highlight, but the team’s reliance on her alone underscored the need for greater depth in the pace department.
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