The stage is set for a high-stakes clash as Harmanpreet Kaur’s dominant India takes on Laura Wolvaardt’s resurgent South Africa in Match 2 of the Women’s ODI Tri-Nation Series at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium. Fresh off a commanding 9-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, the Women in Blue are brimming with confidence, led by emerging star Pratika Rawal’s match-winning half-century.
For South Africa, their campaign opener is a chance to reset the narrative against an Indian side that has historically held the edge (18 wins in 31 ODIs). With spin-friendly conditions, dew-induced chaos, and a Fantasy XI brimming with power-hitters, crafty all-rounders, and wily spinners, this contest promises tactical fireworks.
Whether Sneh Rana’s off-spin mastery or Nadine de Klerk’s death-over precision prevails, every run, wicket, and catch will tilt the fantasy scales. Here’s how to ace your lineup for this Colombo chessboard.
Fantasy 11 picks for India Women Vs South Africa Women
Wicketkeeper:
Richa Ghosh:
As India’s designated finisher, Ghosh thrives in high-pressure situations. Her lightning-quick reflexes behind the stumps make her a dual threat. At R Premadasa, her ability to target the shorter square boundaries against spinners like Nonkululeko Mlaba could be game-changing. Excels in death overs, using scoop shots and reverse sweeps to disrupt line-and-length bowling. Likely to secure catches/stumpings against SA’s middle-order batters, who struggle against spin.
She has scored 690 runs at a strike rate of 92.36 and a decent average of 28.75 in 31 innings, which includes five half-centuries and a high score of 96 (117 balls) against Australia on 30th December 2023, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the ODI format for India so far.
Batters:
Laura Wolvaardt:
The South African skipper, Laura Wolvaardt’s elegant strokeplay is a masterclass in consistency. She’s adept at rotating strike against spinners and capitalising on loose deliveries from pacers. She rarely throws her wicket away, ensuring a steady flow of fantasy points. She also uses nimble footwork against spin, minimising dot-ball pressure.
She has scored over 4,300 runs (4,303 runs) at a strike rate of 71.90 and an impressive average of 50.03 in 100 innings with the bat for her side in the format so far. Her tally of runs in the ODI format includes 34 half-centuries and 8 centuries to her name. She has a high score of 184* (147 balls) against Sri Lanka on 17th April 2024 at Potchefstroom. However, it unfortunately came in a losing cause for her side.
Smriti Mandhana:
India’s vice-captain and top-order pillar, Mandhana’s cover drives and lofted shots over mid-wicket set the tone. Her aggressive starts can demoralise SA’s new-ball bowlers. Knows how to accelerate without reckless shots, balancing risk and reward. She was recently honoured as Wisden’s Leading Woman Cricketer for the 2nd time, her impressive outing in 2024 earned her the prestigious accolade. She has scored 4,252 runs at a strike rate of 87.68 and an impressive average of 46.21 in 98 innings with the bat for her side in the format so far. Her tally of runs includes 30 half-centuries and 10 centuries to her name.
Her best performance with the bat came on 19th June 2024, against South Africa, when she scored 136 (120 balls) in Bengaluru. She is also just 63 runs away from becoming the leading run-scorer for India against South Africa in the ODI format. If India bats first in the contest, you can also think of making her as the captain of your fantasy 11.
Pratika Rawal:
Fresh off a Player of the Match performance, Pratika Rawal’s composure as an opener makes her India’s newest batting mainstay. Her ability to milk singles against SA’s spinners ensures stability. The 24-year-old youngster pounced on every opportunity in the absence of Shafali Verma. She has had a dream start to her ODI career. She has scored 494 runs at a strike rate of 93.91 and an outstanding average of 82.33 in just 7 innings with the bat for India.
She has four half-centuries and a century to her name in the format for her side so far. She is also just 6 runs away from becoming the fastest to score 500 ODI runs in the women’s game, surpassing former England skipper and the current England Head Coach Charlotte Edwards. Low ownership due to inexperience, but her technique against pace is rock-solid. She anchors innings while Mandhana attacks, creating fantasy point hauls through milestones.
All-rounders:
Chloe Tryon:
South Africa’s power-hitting left-hander doubles as a handy left-arm spinner. Her six-hitting against India’s spinners like Deepti Sharma can shift momentum in the middle overs. Prefers leg-side dominance against off-spinners. Her slow left-arm spin could tempt Harmanpreet to promote right-handers, creating wicket-taking opportunities.
She has scored 1,871 runs at a strike rate of 99.52 and an average of 25.63 in 86 innings with the bat for her side in the format. Her tally of runs included 11 half-centuries for her side in the format. She has also picked up 47 wickets at an average of 41.42 and an economy of 4.30 in 76 innings with the ball for her side in the format.
Deepti Sharma:
India’s spin-bowling all-rounder excels at suffocating batters with her stump-to-stump lines. Her lower-order batting often rescues India from collapses. Rarely goes above 4 RPO, building pressure for wickets at the other end. Besides her exploits with the ball, she has been more than just capable of making handy contributions with the bat for her side in the format.
She has picked up 132 wickets at an average of 26.49 and an economy of 4.17 in 101 innings with the ball for her side. Her tally of wickets includes a couple of four-wicket hauls and three five-wicket hauls with the ball for India in the format. She has also scored 2,154 runs at a strike rate of 65.71 and an impressive average of 34.74 in 87 innings with the bat for India. Her tally of runs includes 12 half-centuries and a century to her name in the format so far.
Nadine de Klerk:
South Africa’s death-over specialist combines pinpoint yorkers with lower-order hitting. Her ability to bowl under pressure makes her a fantasy magnet. Her all-round impact makes her a vital pick in your fantasy side and is also one of the reasons why we have trusted her with the vice-captaincy position. She has scored 589 runs at a strike rate of 73.53 and an average of 21.81 in 34 innings, including a couple of half-centuries with the bat to her name in the format.
She has also picked up 49 wickets at an average of 27 and an economy of 4.86 in 40 innings with the ball for her side, including a four-wicket haul. She could be a game-changer for your side.
Sneh Rana:
India’s crisis manager, Rana’s off-spin and lower-order grit make her indispensable. Bowling in the middle overs, she targets South Africa’s shaky middle order. She brings in a lot of experience with the ball as well as with the bat. Her expertise with the ball could create a crucial impact for India against the Proteas. Her ability to contribute with the bat as well as with the ball, and being a safe fielder, provides the opportunity to maximise the points as a result, we have picked her as the captain of our fantasy 11. If India bowls first, she could be the best pick for the captaincy choice.
She has picked up 32 wickets at an average of 32.18 and an economy of 4.59 in 28 innings with the ball for her side, including one four-wicket haul. She has also scored 205 runs at a strike rate of 81.34 and an average of 12.05 in 20 innings with the bat for her side, including one unbeaten half-century with the bat for her side in the format so far.
Annerie Dercksen:
South Africa’s swing bowler and lower-order hitter, Dercksen’s inswingers to left-handers like Smriti Mandhana could yield early breakthroughs. She has scored 70 runs at an average of 17.50 in four innings with the bat for her side in the format so far. She has also picked up 6 wickets at an average of 18.16 and an economy of 5.45 in four innings with the ball for her side in the format.
Bowlers:
Arundhati Reddy:
India’s hit-the-deck pacer relies on variations (slower balls, cutters) to outfox batters. Her Powerplay spell against Wolvaardt’s front-foot drives is critical. Likely to bowl 3 overs upfront, targeting the South African openers. Improved yorkers make her a dark horse for late scalps. She has picked up 9 wickets at an average of 24.77 and an economy of 4.28 in six innings, which includes one four-wicket haul in six innings with the ball and also scored 21 runs in three innings with the bat for India in the format so far. She could be a handy pick in your fantasy 11.
Nonkululeko Mlaba:
South Africa’s left-arm spinner banks on accuracy and drift to stifle batters. Her arm ball to Richa Ghosh could induce mistimed slogs. She has picked up 23 wickets at an average of 46.39 and an economy of 4.80 in 28 innings with the ball for her side. She also scored 40 runs in 14 innings with the bat for her side in the ODI format so far. Builds pressure with dots (economy below 5 Runs Per Over), forcing errors. She could be a game-changer with the ball for South Africa as well as for your fantasy 11.
As the sun sets over R Premadasa, the battle between India’s spin-heavy artillery and South Africa’s pace-and-poise approach will hinge on moments of individual brilliance. Sneh Rana’s ability to out-think Wolvaardt, Richa Ghosh’s fierce swings against Mlaba’s guile, and Mandhana’s elegant dominance could define this clash.
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