The England – India Women’s T20I series opener at Chelmsford belonged entirely to India, who made a resounding statement without their regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. After being put in to bat, the visitors shook off an early stumble from the openers to post a daunting 188 for 7. The rescue act and eventual launchpad came courtesy of Yastika Bhatia (54) and Jemimah Rodrigues (69), both scoring fluent half-centuries while handling the home side’s pace and spin with equal composure.
When it was England’s turn to chase, the target always looked too far. Despite a fighting 67 from Amy Jones, the English lineup struggled to find any momentum against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Nandni Sharma ripped through the middle order with an impressive three-wicket haul, ensuring the hosts were restricted to 150 for 8 and handing India a comprehensive 38-run victory.
As the action moves to the vibrant venue of Bristol, England finds themselves with plenty of homework to do if they want to keep the three-match series alive. Standing captain Charlie Dean will need her top order to show much more intent and support Jones, especially with the powerhouse Nat Sciver-Brunt missing from the setup due to injury.
For India, stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana will be urging her side to ruthless completion; a win today seals the series and provides an immense psychological boost ahead of the upcoming World Cup preparation. Bristol typically offers a true surface with something in it for everyone, meaning the toss will once again be crucial. Expect a highly charged battle as England fights for survival on home soil while an upbeat Indian contingent smells blood.
Head-to-Head:
- Played – 36
- England Wins – 24
- India Wins – 12
- N/R – –
While India clearly holds the momentum after their dominant win in Chelmsford, the historic numbers paint a very different picture. Historically, England has been the undisputed heavyweight in this rivalry, walking away with 24 victories out of their 36 meetings. That leaves India with just 12 wins, meaning they’ve won only a third of their T20 encounters against the hosts. It highlights the massive uphill task India faces when playing England, but it also shows just how significant another victory today would be for this transitioning Indian side looking to rewrite the narrative.
Squads:
England Women’s Cricket Team
Charlie Dean (C), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
India Women’s Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav
Where to Watch: England Women vs India Women – 2nd T20I
Date – 30th May 2026
Time – 7:00 PM IST
Venue – County Ground, Bristol
Broadcast and Live Streaming Details:
In India – The series will be telecasted live on the Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports Ten channels) and you can stream the match live via the SonyLIV app and website.
In the UK – The home series is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and can be streamed online via the Sky Go app.
In North America (US & Canada) – Available to watch live on Willow TV and via Willow on Sling TV.
Fixtures:
1st T20I – England v India (28th May, 2026) – India won by 38 runs
2nd T20I – England v India (30th May, 2026)
3rd T20I – England v India (2nd June, 2026)
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