India fly into Southampton this week with more players banging on the door than there are seats on the team bus – a situation their captain greets with obvious relief. “After a long time, we’re having a healthy headache of having to pick the best team,” Harmanpreet Kaur said on the eve of Wednesday’s opening ODI against England.
Opening combinations have triggered most of the conversation. Smriti Mandhana is inked in, but the choice of partner is not. Pratika Rawal averages 63 from her first 11 one-day innings and has looked secure, yet Shafali Verma’s recent run-scoring in the WPL and domestic cricket demands attention. Head coach Amol Muzumdar gave little away last week, other than confirming that form rather than reputation will decide. If Shafali is restored to the top, Rawal may slide to No 3, where Harleen Deol is also staking a claim.
“Earlier, we didn’t have so many options. Credit to Shafali and Pratika for the kind of performances they’ve put in,” Harmanpreet noted. She added, “Even Harleen, whenever she’s got the opportunity, she has shown she can also take the responsibility for the team. Clarity as a captain is something I give to all players so that when we go to the ground, we know our role and what kind of cricket we’re going to play.”
That clarity, she believes, is the main difference from previous tours. “Everyone knows their role. A lot of clarity is there compared to previously. It’s very important as a player and team to get that. When you’re playing for the country, you want clarity of roles. All credit goes to the team and staff for giving that clarity to the players.”
Batting depth is matched by fresh competition among the spinners, many of whom graduated through the Women’s Premier League. Left-armers Saika Ishaque and Tanuja Kanwer, plus the lively off-spinner Shreyanka Patil, have all had national exposure in the last 18 months. The newest face, 20-year-old N Shree Charani, walked away with the player-of-the-series award in the recent T20Is after topping the wicket charts with ten.
“She’s a key player for us,” Harmanpreet said. “In the WPL, where she played two-three matches for Delhi Capitals, she was impressive. From there only, we all had a chat that she can be a very good option for us. We kept rotating players to see who fits in well, who could give most to the team. She has been outstanding for all of us. A player like her is very important. Along with her, even Radha [Yadav] has made a solid comeback. Hope their combination will keep helping the team like it is.”
Radha Yadav was a late call-up for the T20Is after Shuchi Upadhyay pulled out injured, yet finished as one of the tidiest bowlers and sharpest fielders on show. “Radha is one of the most important teammates for us,” Harmanpreet stressed. “When she was not doing well, it was a big headache how we can extract performances out of her. She’s a player I as a captain don’t want to lose at any cost.”
England, meanwhile, have their own selection riddles, particularly around seam bowling depth following injuries to Kate Cross and Freya Kemp. The hosts are expected to rely heavily on the swing of Lauren Bell and the all-round skills of Nat Sciver-Brunt. India know what to expect – England scrap hard at home – yet the tourists sense an opportunity to measure their growing resources in challenging conditions.
Key statistical markers back up the optimism. Since the start of 2024, India’s women average 46 runs per wicket in ODIs, the best of any side bar Australia. Their spinners concede a touch under four an over – crucial when English surfaces tend to reward accuracy ahead of extravagant turn.
The schedule also hands India a chance to test bench strength. Three ODIs in six days, followed by a pair of T20Is, will put workloads under the microscope. Harmanpreet hinted at rotation but insisted rhythm would not be sacrificed lightly.
For the moment, the captain is simply pleased to have meaningful choices. It has not always been the case for an Indian women’s side that, until recently, depended on a core of six or seven. A deeper pool does not guarantee series victories, yet it does spread responsibility and, perhaps more importantly, injects competition that drives standards up.
Selection meetings, then, might stretch a little longer than usual this week, but no-one in the Indian camp is complaining. As Harmanpreet put it with a smile, that “healthy headache” is the sort of pain teams crave.
