India beat England by 38 runs: Mandhana hails Yastika's comeback in T20I opener
Synopsis
India were 7/2 in the first over and still won by 38 runs — that recovery tells the real story. Yastika Bhatia, back after eight months away, and Jemimah Rodrigues put on 126 together to flip the match, while debutant Nandni Sharma sealed it with three wickets including two in successive balls.
Key Takeaways
India defeated England by 38 runs in the first T20I at Chelmsford on 29 May to lead the series 1-0 .
India recovered from 7/2 in the first over to post 188/7 , thanks to a 126-run third-wicket stand between Yastika Bhatia (54 off 40) and Jemimah Rodrigues (69 off 40).
Yastika was playing her first T20I in two years , returning after an eight-month absence.
Debutant Nandni Sharma took 3 for 34 , dismissing Amy Jones and Dani Gibson in successive deliveries.
England were restricted to 150/8 , with Amy Jones top-scoring with 67 .
The margin is India women's second-biggest against England in T20Is, after a 97-run win at Trent Bridge in 2025 .
Smriti Mandhana, India's stand-in captain, credited Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues for rescuing a faltering innings as India defeated England by 38 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the County Ground, Chelmsford, on 29 May. The result hands India a 1-0 series lead.
Shaky Start, Brilliant Recovery
India were put in to bat and immediately ran into trouble, collapsing to 7/2 inside the very first over. Lauren Bell dismissed Mandhana for a golden duck and removed Shafali Verma in quick succession, leaving the visitors in early crisis. What followed, however, was a masterclass in composure.
Yastika Bhatia — playing her first T20I in two years after an eight-month absence — combined with Rodrigues for a 126-run third-wicket partnership that fundamentally changed the complexion of the match. Yastika scored 54 off 40 balls while Rodrigues delivered a blistering 69 off 40 deliveries, propelling India to a competitive 188/7.
What Mandhana Said
'Losing two wickets in the powerplay was not ideal. Credit to Yastika, who came back after eight months. She took the game away. Jemi doing Jemi things. We should have scored 10 more runs though. Fielding second is an advantage,' Mandhana said after the match.
She also singled out the bowling unit for special mention, noting their composure under pressure. 'We had a lot of inputs from Jemi and Yastika. All the bowlers were executing their plans. They were calm under pressure. Nandni is a character. She has a lot of fire. She picked up crucial wickets and bowled some crucial overs,' Mandhana added.
Debutant Nandni Sharma Turns the Tide
Debutant pacer Nandni Sharma was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 3 for 34. She delivered the decisive blow by dismissing Amy Jones and Dani Gibson in successive deliveries, effectively ending England's chase.
England's reply was anchored by Jones, who top-scored with 67, while Heather Knight contributed 21 during a 64-run third-wicket partnership. India's bowlers, however, held firm in the back half of the innings to restrict England to 150/8.
Historic Margin in Context
The 38-run victory is India women's second-biggest winning margin against England in Women's T20Is, surpassed only by their 97-run triumph at Trent Bridge in 2025. This comes amid a growing trend of India's batting depth asserting itself in bilateral series abroad. The second T20I will be a key test of whether India can convert a series lead into a series win.
Point of View
Which points to a batting order with genuine resilience beyond the top two. Yastika's return after eight months also matters beyond this match: if she holds form, India's middle-order problem that has haunted them in knockout cricket looks considerably less alarming. Nandni Sharma's debut is equally significant — India have historically struggled to find a second seam option in women's T20Is, and a three-wicket debut on English conditions is exactly the kind of signal selectors needed. The caveat is Mandhana's own admission that India should have scored ten more; at 188, England were always in the chase. That finishing-overs execution gap will need addressing before the series is sealed.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the first India vs England Women's T20I at Chelmsford?
India defeated England by 38 runs in the opening T20I at the County Ground, Chelmsford, on 29 May. India posted 188/7 and restricted England to 150/8 to take a 1-0 series lead.
How did Yastika Bhatia perform on her T20I comeback?
Yastika Bhatia scored 54 off 40 balls in her first T20I in two years, returning after an eight-month absence. She shared a 126-run third-wicket partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues to rescue India from 7/2.
Who was the standout bowler for India in the first T20I?
Debutant pacer Nandni Sharma was the pick of India's bowlers, taking 3 for 34. She dismissed Amy Jones and Dani Gibson in successive deliveries to effectively end England's chase.
How significant is India's 38-run win over England historically?
It is India women's second-biggest winning margin against England in Women's T20Is, behind only their 97-run victory at Trent Bridge in 2025.
Why did India struggle at the start of their innings?
Lauren Bell dismissed stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana for a golden duck and then removed Shafali Verma in the same over, reducing India to 7/2. Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues subsequently steadied the innings with a 126-run partnership.
