Women's T20 WC: India arrive in Leeds for Netherlands clash at Headingley
Synopsis
Fresh off a 64-run thrashing of Pakistan, Harmanpreet Kaur's India have touched down in Leeds for their second Women's T20 World Cup group game against Netherlands at Headingley. A BCCI travel video from the Birmingham-to-Leeds bus ride gave fans a rare, unscripted look at the team's off-field bonds — from Smriti Mandhana's restaurant picks to Richa Ghosh's city-guide credentials.
Key Takeaways
Team India arrived in Leeds for their second Women's T20 World Cup group stage match against Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday .
The Women in Blue are coming off an emphatic 64-run win over Pakistan in their tournament opener.
The squad travelled by bus from Birmingham to Leeds , with the BCCI sharing a candid team bonding video on X .
Smriti Mandhana , Jemimah Rodrigues , Shreyanka Patil , Shafali Varma , and Deepti Sharma featured in the video sharing fun insights about teammates.
Renuka Singh Thakur was revealed to love soft toys; Richa Ghosh is the team's go-to travel guide.
Harmanpreet Kaur-led Team India arrived in Leeds ahead of their second ICC Women's T20 World Cup group stage fixture against Netherlands, scheduled for Wednesday at Headingley. The Women in Blue travel on the back of a commanding 64-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their tournament opener.
The Journey to Leeds
The squad made the trip from Birmingham to Headingley by bus, taking in scenic views along the route. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a travel video on X, offering fans a candid look at the team's camaraderie on the road — teammates trading compliments and revealing quirky facts about each other.
Players Open Up on Team Bonds
In the video, Smriti Mandhana spoke warmly about pacer Arundhati Reddy: 'She has that fire in her; she also keeps motivating me to do the right things in terms of preps and doing the right things on the ground.'
Arundhati, returning the favour for the Indian vice-captain, quipped: 'The one good thing about her is that every place that I eat when I come abroad is chosen by her and most often than not they turn out to be great food. So if anybody wants to know where to go and what to eat, get in touch with her.'
Jemimah Rodrigues praised all-rounder Shreyanka Patil for her caring nature, saying: 'The thing I love about Shrey is that she's really caring; she looks after the people she's around.' Shreyanka, in turn, highlighted Jemimah's flair for surprises: 'I call her Jemi. There are so many good things, but one thing I really love about her is she surprises things just like that — I'll be sitting somewhere and she comes up with some gifts or something because I love gifts.'
Fun Facts from the Dressing Room
Shafali Varma revealed that pacer Renuka Singh Thakur has a soft spot for soft toys, while Deepti Sharma noted that wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh doubles as the team's unofficial travel encyclopaedia — armed with knowledge about every city or country on the itinerary.
What's at Stake Against Netherlands
A win on Wednesday at Headingley would put India in a strong position to advance from the group stage. The Netherlands, while not among the tournament favourites, have shown the ability to punch above their weight in multi-team events. India will be keen to carry forward the momentum from their Pakistan demolition and sharpen their combination ahead of the knockout rounds.
Point of View
And how India manage rotation and workload against a lower-ranked Netherlands side will signal whether Harmanpreet's squad is peaking at the right time or burning bright too early in the group stage.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is India's match against Netherlands in the Women's T20 World Cup?
India play Netherlands on Wednesday at Headingley in Leeds. It is India's second group stage fixture of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
How did India perform in their first Women's T20 World Cup match?
India beat Pakistan by 64 runs in their tournament opener, a result that has set a confident tone for the rest of the group stage campaign.
What did the BCCI share from the team's travel to Leeds?
The BCCI posted a video on X filmed during the team's bus journey from Birmingham to Leeds, featuring players like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shreyanka Patil, and Shafali Varma sharing candid thoughts about their teammates.
Who is leading Team India in the Women's T20 World Cup?
Harmanpreet Kaur is captaining Team India in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain.
What fun facts were revealed about Indian players in the BCCI video?
Shafali Varma revealed that pacer Renuka Singh Thakur loves soft toys, while Deepti Sharma said wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh has encyclopaedic knowledge of every city the team visits on tour.
