Mandhana, Shafali must fire at top as India pivot to T20 World Cup
Synopsis
India lost the England T20I series 2-1, but Smriti Mandhana's bigger worry is the powerplay. With only 75 runs between her and Shafali Verma across three games, the opening pair head into the Women's T20 World Cup knowing the top order has to fire — starting with a sell-out India-Pakistan opener in Birmingham on 14 June.
Key Takeaways
India lost the three-match T20I series to England 2-1 , with the decider ending in Taunton on 3 June .
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma managed a combined 75 runs across three matches as openers.
England chased 181 with nine balls to spare after recovering from 38/3 , powered by Heather Knight and Alice Capsey .
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur hit an unbeaten 56 to take India to 180 in the final T20I.
India begin their Women's T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June .
Smriti Mandhana has acknowledged that she and opening partner Shafali Verma must take greater ownership at the top of the order as India shift focus to the Women's T20 World Cup after a 2-1 series defeat to England concluded in Taunton on 3 June. The vice-captain framed the England tour as crucial groundwork for the global tournament, which will be staged in similar conditions.
A series of missed opportunities at the top
India opened the three-match T20I series with a convincing win but failed to carry that momentum, slipping to back-to-back defeats. The opening pair of Mandhana and Shafali mustered a combined 75 runs across three games — flashes of timing without the substantial contributions India had hoped for.
“Coming in early and playing a series in England, where we've a World Cup to play, in terms of preparations, it's extremely good to do that. But thinking back, both me and Shafali (Varma) have a huge role to play forward,” Mandhana said after the third T20I.
Confidence intact despite low returns
The left-hander insisted the openers were not far from clicking. “We both are timing the ball well but unfortunately are not able to contribute in big ways for the team. But again for both of us, we'll go back in the nets and keep working hard and make sure that we come back better as an opening pair because both of us pride ourselves on giving good starts and keeping the momentum going. We'll take it in our stride and work hard,” she added.
How the decider slipped away
India seemed in control of the series-deciding contest after reducing England to 38/3 in the chase of 181. A counter-attacking stand between Heather Knight and Alice Capsey, however, turned the match, with the hosts crossing the line with nine deliveries to spare.
“In T20 games momentum keeps shifting. We started really well with the ball, putting them at 35/3 (38/3), but then I wouldn't take anything away from the partnership they had. I think they played really good cricketing shots, they played all around the ground,” Mandhana noted, while adding that the experience clarified India's bowling blueprint for English pitches: “On bowling, we'll go to the drawing board, and see which options are better… Now I think I know in these conditions what balls are to be bowled.”
Positives heading into the World Cup
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten 56 anchored India to 180 in the final match after early wickets. “Harman when she's at her best, it's a sight to watch. Really important innings under pressure, especially when we needed that sort of knock to get us to 180-plus,” Mandhana said.
She also flagged the form of Jemimah Rodrigues and the wider batting group as a reassuring sign. “Everyone is in a good nick, and it's a good sign going into the T20 World Cup,” she said.
What's next
India open their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June, a fixture Mandhana expects to be a sell-out. “We really need to hype up the T20 World Cup. In fact, it's already hyped up. I'm sure a lot of people will come and watch us play. Hopefully we can put up a good show for them,” she concluded.
Point of View
But the numbers tell a sharper story — 75 runs across three innings from India's marquee opening pair is a powerplay problem, not a timing one. For all the optimism around Harmanpreet's form and the middle order's depth, India's recent white-ball template has leaned heavily on Mandhana setting the tempo. If the Birmingham opener against Pakistan turns into another low-scoring slog, the lack of a quick start could expose a batting order still over-reliant on its captain to rescue innings.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Smriti Mandhana say about her partnership with Shafali Verma?
Mandhana said both she and Shafali Verma have 'a huge role to play forward' for India at the top of the order ahead of the T20 World Cup. She admitted the pair were timing the ball well but not converting starts into big contributions.
How did India lose the T20I series against England?
India won the first T20I but lost the next two to surrender the series 2-1. In the decider, England chased 181 with nine balls to spare despite slipping to 38/3, thanks to a recovery partnership between Heather Knight and Alice Capsey.
How many runs did Mandhana and Shafali score in the series?
The opening pair managed a combined 75 runs across three T20Is. Mandhana said both players would return to the nets to work on converting their good touch into substantial scores.
When does India play its first T20 World Cup match?
India open their Women's T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June. Mandhana expects the fixture to be a sell-out, calling it a major opportunity to showcase women's cricket.
What was Harmanpreet Kaur's contribution in the final T20I?
Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 56 to lift India to 180 in the third T20I after early setbacks. Mandhana described the knock as crucial, saying 'Harman when she's at her best, it's a sight to watch'.
