Richa Ghosh bags Impact Fielder medal in England T20I series
Synopsis
India lost the England T20Is 2-1, but the fielding ledger tells a different story. Richa Ghosh's three catches and two key stops won her the Impact Fielder medal, while India held a 87% catching rate. With the Women's T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June, that on-field sharpness may be Harmanpreet Kaur's biggest takeaway.
Key Takeaways
Richa Ghosh was named Impact Fielder of the England T20I series after three catches and two key stops.
India lost the three-match series 2-1 at Taunton on 3 June .
India's catching rate was 87% — 13 out of 15 chances taken, per fielding coach Munish Bali .
Shafali Verma , Jemimah Rodrigues and debutant Nandni Sharma were singled out for praise.
India face West Indies and England in Cardiff warm-ups on 8 and 10 June , before opening the Women's T20 World Cup vs Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June .
India wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh was named the Impact Fielder of the recently concluded T20I series against England, despite the visitors slipping to a 2-1 series defeat in their final tune-up before the Women's T20 World Cup. Fielding coach Munish Bali handed her the medal at Taunton on 3 June, lauding her glovework behind the stumps.
Why Richa stood out
According to Bali, Ghosh took three catches and pulled off two crucial stops across the three-match series. ‘Richa Ghosh, three catches, excellent keeping. Very well done and two excellent stops too. Best impact fielder of the series, Richa Ghosh,' Bali said in a video shared by the BCCI on its social media handles on Wednesday.
India's overall fielding report card
Bali pointed to a strong group effort on the field, even as India's batting and bowling came under scrutiny. ‘Lots of positives, especially on the field. Throwing was very good. Our body language was excellent throughout the three-match series. Energy, effort, no complaints, and catching percentage were little good, 87 percent catching. Out of 15, we took 13 catches, 87 percent,' he said.
Special mentions: Shafali, Jemimah, Nandni
The coach singled out Shafali Verma for her three catches in the opening game and her diving stops, calling her commitment ‘excellent.' He praised Jemimah Rodrigues for her arm and intensity, noting she made an estimated 30-35 high-intensity throws from the deep without conceding ‘a single double' on the larger English grounds.
Debutant Nandni Sharma also drew praise. ‘Nandni, well done; excellent catch and her body language was excellent. It didn't feel like she came to play the first series for India in these three games,' Bali said.
What's next for India
India will play two warm-up fixtures against the West Indies and England on 8 June and 10 June respectively in Cardiff, before launching their Women's T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June. The series loss notwithstanding, the fielding metrics offer a rare bright spot for Harmanpreet Kaur's side heading into the marquee tournament.
Point of View
But the bigger questions — middle-order misfires and a thin spin attack on English surfaces — were not solved in this series. Richa Ghosh's keeping consistency is one of the few genuine positives, and her form behind the stumps could matter more than the headline result against a pace-heavy Pakistan attack on 14 June. Fielding wins games; it does not, by itself, win World Cups.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Impact Fielder award in India's T20I series against England?
India wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh won the Impact Fielder medal for the three-match T20I series against England. Fielding coach Munish Bali cited her three catches and two crucial stops behind the stumps.
What was the result of the India vs England women's T20I series?
India lost the three-match T20I series 2-1 to England, with the final game played at Taunton. It was India's last assignment before the Women's T20 World Cup.
What was India's catching percentage in the series?
India held 13 of 15 chances, a catching success rate of 87%, according to fielding coach Munish Bali. He described the team's energy and body language across the three games as ‘excellent.'
When does India begin the Women's T20 World Cup?
India open their Women's T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June. Before that, they play warm-ups against the West Indies on 8 June and England on 10 June, both in Cardiff.
Which other India players were praised for their fielding?
Munish Bali singled out Shafali Verma for three catches in the opening game and diving stops, Jemimah Rodrigues for her throwing intensity from the deep, and debutant Nandni Sharma for a sharp catch and composed body language.
