India women start T20I series vs England ahead of World Cup

The India women's cricket team begins a three-match T20I series against England on Thursday, marking a final preparatory step for both sides ahead of next month's Women's T20 World Cup. The first match will be played at the County Ground in Chelmsford.

For India, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the series represents a crucial opportunity to address recent inconsistencies. The team's World Cup preparations have been mixed, beginning with a strong 5-0 sweep of Sri Lanka at home last December and a historic 2-1 T20I series victory in Australia, their first bilateral series win there in a decade. However, that momentum was halted by a 1-4 series defeat in South Africa, where concerns emerged regarding batting consistency and bowling effectiveness in key moments.

The series in England allows India to work on these areas before their World Cup opener against Pakistan on June 14. The pace attack, featuring Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Goud, and Arundhati Reddy, will be under particular scrutiny in conditions expected to assist seam bowling. The team management may also consider giving an opportunity to fast-bowling rookie Nandini Sharma, who impressed in the Women's Premier League.