The Indian women’s cricket team is set to begin one of the most anticipated tours of England, starting on June 28, 2025. One of the main discussion points heading into the series is the return of destructive opening batter Shafali Verma into T20 International cricket. While Shafali has been out of the national team for a short window of time, this is not just a sign of her impressive domestic form, it is a sign the selectors were looking for some degree of a combination of aggression and experience in the batting order.
Let’s unpack what this selection means, what it means for India’s tour of England as well as the general feel of the team and the two distinct formats of T20 and ODI.
Shafali’s Return: Redemption Comes via the WPL
Shafali Verma is known for her destructive power, and top-order fearless approach, but she too was dropped from the national side late in 2024. The selectors noted her promising talent, however, her inconsistencies created discomfort, and they commented they wanted better temperament in high-pressure matches. The 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL), was her redemption. She finished the WPL as the fourth-highest run scorer, showing better temperament, improved shot choice and intent which attracted recognition from the selectors.
Her inclusion into the T20I squad in preparation for the England tour continues to strengthen Indian powerplay and allows her to be a part of a top order reunion with veteran Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. There could be an explosive partnership forming at the top order to watch out for.
Sayali Satghare: Quiet , but impact making return
Sayali Satghare made her debut for India earlier in 2025 against Ireland and built a reputation for discipline with her bowling that few other players in her side had. The selectors choice in both the ODI and T20I squads indicates management trust her flexibility and resilience. Certainly not a household name yet, both based on her promise with the ball, and her calmness under pressure she might be able to break out on this tour, with her efficient cricketing style.
Change in T20I Squad: New Faces, New Thing
The changes in the T20I squad are more magnified than those in the ODI squad. The reason for that is a clearer sign of management’s willingness to benchmark recent performance/two series against some stronger teams and to experiment in a focused manner ahead of an busy international calendar. The returns of Yastika Bhatia and Harleen Deol to the T20I setup are with proven credentials in the shorter formats. The dual skill of Yastika’s middle order batting and keeping makes for interesting flexibility for the coaching staff, while Harleen can give depth in terms of batting as well as being a part-time spinner.
Perhaps the most notable inclusion is Sneh Rana, who was awarded Player of the Series for her allround brilliance in the very recent Sri Lanka tri-series. The signing of Rana is a big bonus for the spin department of India, and the flexibility Rana brings in terms of being a finisher as well a useful bowling option adds an extra layer of tactical advantage.
On the contrary, the omission of Uma Chetry, who opened the batting against West Indies early this year, suggests more of a preference of experience and form rather than long-term experiments, at least for this important tour.
ODI Squad: Stability
Compared to the T20 setup, the ODI squad looks more settled, and is a more familiar sight. Instead of a brand new squad or grouping, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, lead a group that has played together recently. Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma add some continuity and stability to the squad.
New faces in Pratika Rawal, Tejal Hasabnis, and Kranti Gaud all add depth and options for rotation, especially in a longer series where weight of fixtures will be a consideration. Kranti replaces Kashvee Gautam as a perhaps more tactical approach to add more control in the middle overs.
With ODIs still being the more stabilizing format for the Indian squad, this tour is an ideal opportunity to experiment with untested, raw talent pairing alongside experienced leadership as it preserved towards upcoming ICC tournaments.
Tour Plan and Significance
The tour of England starts on June 28 with the first T20I at Trent Bridge. Following the five-match T20I series, three ODIs will be played and the tour will finish on July 22. The bilateral series represents an important two-month preparation period before the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026. There will be critical choices to make, experimentation, performance and thinking that needs to be useful for India in England.
Historically, England has always been a tough challenge, particularly in home conditions. With swing conditions available in June and July, India’s batters especially (the top order) players like Shafali and Smriti will be dealt some early blows, while India’s spinners like Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana and Shuchi Upadhyay will be significant as the surface and wear in a long tour.
The Bigger Picture
This tour is not simply about winning a few matches, it is about forming a cohesive unit that can perform in different formats and conditions, and align youth development with performance experience to build a larger pool of all-rounders. The focus, understandably, needs to be on 2026, and most importantly, having the confidence and competency to represent India at future world events.
Shafali Verma’s return is much more than a headline, it’s a testament of hard work, development and depth in Indian women’s cricket. The WPL is fulfilling its purpose of redeeming the domestic talent pool, selectors are finally making selections based on performance and future considerations.
Whether or not those selections can translate into wins is uncertain, but we will all be watching to see how this tour of England represents a defining time in the further development of this evolving team.
Full Squads
ODI Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (C), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare
T20I Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare
