Mumbai: India’s cricket eves will be brimming with confidence going into a three-match ODI series against England here, Thursday, following an impressive 2-1 series victory against New Zealand away from home. All the three ODIs are set to be played at the Wankhede Stadium here.
Opener Smriti Mandhana, who amassed 196 runs including a hundred and a 90 in New Zealand, will be a key player with the bat for India. However, the hosts will be without all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been ruled out of the entire series with an ankle injury and has been replaced by Harleen Deol.
The Mithali Raj-led team have had middle-order issues in the past and newly-appointed coach WV Raman would be keen to sort them as quickly as possible.
Pacer Jhulan Goswami will lead the attack with the ball with Shikha Pandey and Mansi Joshi joining in as well. With spin being a key element on Indian wickets, the role of slow bowlers Deepti Sharma, Ekta Bisth and Poonav Yadav in the middle overs would be crucial.
England meanwhile will be led at the top of the order by the experienced Danni Wyatt and Heather Knight Heather, who has 2,331 runs to her credit in 86 ODIs.
The visitors will be hoping that the combined attack of pacers Sophie Ecceclestone, Anya Shrubsole and Nat Sciver would be enough to cause the Indian batting order enough trouble to steal a victory.
PTI