BPXI vs England women: All eyes on Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana, the India opener, will lead the Board President’s XI squad for a warm-up game against the visiting English side ahead of a three-match ODI series.

Smriti Mandhana has been in good form of late. Photo: Getty Images

The next few weeks are going to be quite challenging for India women’s cricket team as it would be hosting a rather superior England side for a limited overs series.

After a mixed outing in New Zealand, where it won the ODIs and conceded the T20I series, India has plenty to play for at home. But before that, the players would be hoping to take a stock of things when the warm-up fixture between Board President’s XI and the touring England side is played at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

That, in a way, will help the Smriti Mandhana-led side get a hang of things ahead of the important ODI series--which is part of ICC Championships and begins at the same venue from Friday.

On personal front, Board President’s XI skipper, Smriti Mandhana, has had a successful outing in New Zealand, where she scored 196 runs in the three-match ODI series. In the three innings, she also had a ton and another knock of 90. So, back in the home conditions, Mandhana will be hoping to keep the momentum going.

Read | Female viewership key to women's cricket growth, says Smriti Mandhana

“I am really excited for the England series and we need six points to up there in the ICC Championships. I hope we can play as an unit and win more games for the country,” Mandhana told  Sportstar .

Besides Mandhana, wicketkeeper R. Kalpana also features in both the Board President’s XI and India squads. She could also benefit from playing in the practice game.

If it is a chance for India to get the house in order, for a formidable England side, the warm-up fixture will be a chance to acclimatise to the Indian conditions. England is a force to reckon with in the 50-over format, has some of some of the big names like Tammy Beaumont, captain Heather Knight, and Danny White, who had excelled against the Indian bowling during a Twenty20 series between the sides last year.

Before the first ODI gets underway on Friday, both the teams will be hoping to set the tone for the series when the ball gets rolling at the Wankhede on Monday morning.

• England women: Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Alex Hartley, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (c), Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor (wk), Lauren Winfield and Danni Wyatt.
• Board President’s XI: Smriti Mandhana (c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Devika Vaidya, S. Meghana, Bharati Fulmali, Komal Zanzad, R. Kalpana (wk), Priya Punia, Harleen Deol, Reemalaxmi Ekka, Manali Dakshini, Minnu Mani and Tanuja Kanwar.