After a riveting Test between India and England, the two sides are ready for the three-match ODI series that gets underway from June 27 at Bristol. The second ODI will be played on June 30 at Taunton and the third and final ODI will be played on July 3 at Worcester. India will play the same 18-member squad which was a part of the one-off Test.
Squad analysis:
Mithali Raj: The captain is the lynchpin of the Indian team. She is the highest run-getter in women’s ODI cricket with 7098 runs in 214 matches at an average of 51.06, including 55 half-centuries and seven centuries.
Smriti Mandhana: The stylish left-hander has the reputation of providing a steady start to the team. She has featured in 56 ODIs so far and has scored 2172 runs at an average of 42.58, including 18 half-centuries and four centuries.
Punam Raut: The top-order bat is usually a slow starter but when she settles in, she scores big. She has featured in 72 ODIs so far and has scored 2267 runs at an average of 34.87, including 15 half-centuries and three centuries.
Priya Punia: The young opening batter has just started her ODI career and in her short stint so far has been impressive. She has featured in seven ODIs and has scored 225 runs at an average of 37.50, including two half-centuries.
Jemimah Rodrigues: She is one of India’s top-order batters. The right-hander has featured in 19 ODIs so far and has scored 382 runs at an average of 21.22, including three half-centuries.
Shafali Verma: The swashbuckling batting sensation has taken Indian women’s cricket to a different level. The number one T20I batter has not yet made her ODI debut but will surely be a player to watch out for given her proficiency at the top of the order.
Harmanpreet Kaur: The vice-captain of the Indian team is a handy all-rounder. She has featured in 104 ODIs so far and has scored 2532 runs at an average of 35.66, including 12 half-centuries and three centuries. The off-spinner has also picked up 25 wickets in 60 innings.
Deepti Sharma: The left-hand bat and right arm off-spinner is a genuine all-rounder in the Indian ranks. She has featured in 58 ODIs so far and has scored 1488 runs at an average of 39.15, including 10 half-centuries and one century. The 23-year old has scalped 65 wickets, including one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul.
Shikha Pandey: The right-hand bat and right arm seamer is another experienced all-rounder in the team. She has featured in 52 ODIs so far and has scored 507 runs at an average of 21.12, including two half-centuries. She has accounted for 73 wickets, including two four-wicket hauls.
Pooja Vastrakar: The 21-year old bowling all-rounder is a bright upcoming talent. She has featured in six ODIs so far and has scored 88 runs at an average of 17.60, including one-half century. She has a good pace and can trouble any batter with her probing lines and lengths.
Taniya Bhatia: The wicket-keeper bat is a vital cog in the Indian line-up. She is a safe house behind the stumps and can contribute with the bat whenever required. She has featured in 15 ODIs so far and has scored 121 runs at an average of 20.16, including one-half century. As a keeper, she has accounted for 14 catches and eight stumpings.
Indrani Roy: The young wicket-keeper bat from Jharkhand is a new entrant into the Indian ODI squad. She made the cut into the national side based on her prolific domestic performances. She is a good opening bat and a talented keeper.
Sneh Rana: The right-hand bat and right-arm-off spinner after her heroics in the recently concluded Test will be high in confidence. Making her comeback into the Indian team after five years, she will be rearing to go. She has featured in seven ODIs so far and has scored 21 runs at an average of 7.00. She has scalped seven wickets in as many innings.
Jhulan Goswami: The veteran right-arm seamer is the leader of India’s bowling attack. She has featured in 186 ODIs so far and has scored 1085 runs at an average of 13.91, including the one-half century. She is the leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs with 233 wickets in 185 innings, including seven four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls.
Arundhati Reddy: The right-arm seamer has the reputation of bowling consistently on a particular line and length. She has featured in 23 T20Is so far, has scored 72 runs, and picked up 17 wickets. She is yet to make her ODI debut.
Poonam Yadav: The loopy leg spinner is a genuine wicket-taking option. She has featured in 50 ODIs so far and has accounted for 72 wickets, four four-wicket hauls.
Ekta Bisht: The left-arm spinner is one of the integral parts of India’s spin attack. She has featured in 61 ODIs so far and has picked up 96 wickets, including one four-wicket haul and two five-wicket hauls.
Radha Yadav: She is another left-arm spinner in the team and has the ability to contribute with the bat. She has featured in one ODI so far. However, her T20I experience includes 37 matches and 51 wickets.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
