ENG W vs IND W first ODI Preview | Focus on ODI World Cup as India look to continue scintillating run

‌India Women will look to accelerate their preparations for the fast-approaching ODI World Cup at home when they meet England Women in the first ODI on Wednesday. With the visitors sealing the T20I series 3-2, the focus now shifts to the three-match ODI leg, starting at The Rose Bowl in Southampton.

India has had an excellent run in ODIs this year in the build-up to the marquee event at home from September to November. The Women in Blue have won seven of their eight matches played this year, with the only loss coming against Sri Lanka in the ODI Tri-Series in May, which also featured South Africa. With cleansweeps in the ODI duels against West Indies late last year and Ireland, and a victorious run in the Tri-Series, India aim to round off preparations with another series win before meeting Australia at home ahead of the ICC event.

Smriti Mandhana has been in imperious form in 2025, topping the batting charts for India, second overall, with a tally of 513 runs at an average of 64.12 and a strike rate of 112.74. The southpaw has four scores of fifty-plus, including two centuries, in eight outings this year. But her opening partner and rookie Pratika Rawal has been a revelation after making her ODI debut against the West Indies in December.

The Delhi batter has amassed 504 runs this year at an impressive average of 72.00 with a hundred and four fifties from eight games. The middle order has also looked in great nick with the duo of Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues averaging 40.14 and 60.00, respectively, for their 281 and 360 runs in 2025.

On the bowling front, off-spinner Sneh Rana has had a breakthrough season with 15 wickets from five matches. She was the top wicket-taker in the ODI Tri-Series at an impressive average of 14.00 and strike rate of 17.73, also winning the Player of the Series in that tournament. Fellow office Deepti Sharma is second on the list with 12 scalps from eight games. Meanwhile, medium pacer Amanjot Kaur and left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who made her debut in the Tri-Series, have six wickets each.

After suffering a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia at the start of the year, England Women managed to recover under new coach Charlotte Edwards to post an identical win over the West Indies last month. With the team heading to India for the World Cup later this year, this will be the last opportunity for the hosts to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the multi-nation event.

Regular captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is expected to lead the side after missing the latter half of the T20I leg with a groin injury. The all-rounder’s return will boost the home side, with Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont expected to continue their impressive showing this year. They have amassed 359 and 283 runs, respectively, from five innings to lead England’s batting performance.

Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone is also back in the mix after missing the home series against West Indies, as England look to put the disappointment of the T20I series loss behind them.

Form Guide

ENG W Form: LLWWW

IND W Form: WWLWW

ENG W vs IND W head-to-head in ODIs

England Women hold a slight edge over India in the head-to-head record in ODIs, with 40 wins compared to 34 in 76 matches, with two of them ending without a result. But both sides meet each other in ODIs after almost three years, with India winning four of their last five games before that.

ENG W 40 - 34 IND W

Pitch and Conditions

The Rose Bowl surface is expected to offer pace and movement at the start of the match before easing out to help batters in run-scoring. A women’s ODI will be played for the first time in two years at the venue after Australia beat the hosts by three runs in a close game in July 2023. A high-scoring game is on the cards with England having a superior record against India at this ground, winning both their previous matches in 2006.

The weather is expected to be sunny and pleasant at the start of the day-night contest, with temperatures expected to be around 23 degrees before cooling down to 17 in the second half of the game. The chances of rain are placed at 1% before clouds make their way to increase the possibilities of a downpour to 23% at night.

Team News

Patika Rawal, Harleen Deol, and rookie pacer Kranti Goud are expected to start for India in the first game, while the returning Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone are likely to take their places in the playing eleven.

ENG W Expected XI

Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer. 

IND W Expected XI

Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud

Broadcasting Platforms 

The ENG W vs IND W first ODI match will be digitally streamed on the FanCode and SonyLiv apps and websites in India with live telecast on Sony Sports Network from 5:30 PM IST on Wednesday.