Harmanpreet, Shreyanka return as India face England in 2nd Women's T20I at Bristol
Synopsis
India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur is back after a calf niggle and Shreyanka Patil adds a second spin option as India look to seal the Women's T20I series at Bristol. England, stung by a 38-run defeat in Chelmsford, have brought back Danni Wyatt-Hodge from maternity leave in a bid to level the three-match contest.
Key Takeaways
England won the toss and elected to bat first in the 2nd Women's T20I at Bristol on 30 May .
Harmanpreet Kaur returns after missing the first match with a calf niggle, replacing Bharti Fulmali .
Shreyanka Patil also comes back into the XI in place of Kranti Gaud , giving India a second spinner.
India lead the three-match series 1-0 after a 38-run win in Chelmsford .
England's veteran opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge returns from maternity leave; Linsey Smith also recalled.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Shreyanka Patil returned to India's playing eleven as England won the toss and opted to bat first in the second Women's T20I at Bristol on Saturday, 30 May. India, leading the three-match series 1-0, received a significant boost with the skipper's return after a calf niggle and the addition of a second spinner.
India's Key Returns
Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the first T20I in Chelmsford due to a calf injury, comes back into the side in place of Bharti Fulmali. Off-spin bowling all-rounder Shreyanka Patil also makes her return, replacing Kranti Gaud, giving India an additional spin option on what the skipper described as a drier-looking pitch.
'We were looking to bat too, but I think the pitch looks drier and we have added one more spinner today. So hopefully, we'll try to stop them on a decent total so that we can chase it easier,' Harmanpreet said at the toss.
Harmanpreet on India's Series Approach
The India captain credited the batting partnership of Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia for setting the tone in the series opener, which India won by 38 runs. She stressed the importance of powerplay wickets and sustained pressure from the bowling unit.
'The bowling is also something — we always talk about taking wickets in the powerplay and then keep putting pressure on the batters. Our bowlers did a really great job, and a great contribution by the fielders. Hopefully, we'll play a similar kind of cricket today,' she said.
England's Changes: Wyatt-Hodge Returns
Stand-in England captain Charlie Dean confirmed that veteran opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge is back from maternity leave, with left-arm spinner Linsey Smith also returning to the squad. Issy Wong and Tilly Corteen-Coleman were omitted from the playing eleven.
'It's brilliant to have her back. Really looking forward to seeing Danni bat today. She brings a wealth of experience to our team, fresh as a mother, but ready to get going,' Dean said.
Dean acknowledged England were in a strong position at the halfway stage of the first game before the 38-run defeat, and called on her side to be 'really ruthless' in the back end of their innings this time around.
Playing XIs
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Nandni Sharma, and Sree Charani.
England: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlie Dean (captain), Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, and Lauren Bell.
With India one win away from sealing the series and their captain back at the helm, the visitors will be looking to close out the contest in Bristol.
Point of View
Doubling down on spin rather than pace. England's decision to bat first despite losing the last game by 38 runs reflects a conscious attempt to address their batting collapse in the back half of the first innings — but bringing back Wyatt-Hodge from maternity leave mid-series is a gamble on experience over rhythm. The series is India's to lose, and the personnel moves suggest they know it.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current series score between India and England in the Women's T20I series?
India lead the three-match Women's T20I series 1-0 after winning the first game in Chelmsford by 38 runs. The second match is being played at Bristol on 30 May.
Why did Harmanpreet Kaur miss the first Women's T20I?
Harmanpreet Kaur missed the first T20I due to a calf niggle. She has recovered and returned to lead India in the second match at Bristol, replacing Bharti Fulmali.
Who is Danni Wyatt-Hodge and why is her return significant?
Danni Wyatt-Hodge is a veteran England opener who had been on maternity leave. Her return brings experience to the top of England's batting order as they look to bounce back from their first-game defeat.
Why did India include Shreyanka Patil in the playing XI?
Shreyanka Patil, an off-spin bowling all-rounder, was brought in to give India a second spinner on a pitch that Harmanpreet described as looking drier than usual. She replaces Kranti Gaud.
Who is captaining England in the Women's T20I series?
Charlie Dean is serving as stand-in captain for England in the Women's T20I series against India.
