Latest news with #HarleenDeol
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Eng v Ind: Eyes on T20 World Cup 2026 prep
New Delhi: With the ICC Women's T20 World Cup less than a year away and set to be hosted in England, the five-match T20I series between England and India that begins on June 28 at Trent Bridge, arrives at a pivotal moment for both teams. The series offers a vital chance to test combinations, adapt to conditions and build momentum heading into a high-stakes year. Smriti Mandhana (right) and Harleen Deol . (@BCCIWomen) For India, it marks the beginning of their 2025 T20I calendar. The team hasn't played a T20I since their home win over West Indies in December and 2024 overall proved a rollercoaster. Despite bilateral success, it was marked by a heartbreaking Asia Cup final loss and an early exit from the T20 World Cup. However, many players levelled up during the Women's Premier League (WPL) and that recent form could prove crucial. Among the most anticipated returns is that of Shafali Verma who's likely to reclaim her spot at the top of the order after a strong domestic run and impressive WPL campaign for Delhi Capitals, having scored 304 runs in 9 matches. With the ODI World Cup also looming in September, this series could be a springboard for her selection into both formats despite the competition that exists in the 50-over format. India's squad will also see new faces in left-arm spinner N Shree Charani and seam all-rounder Kranti Goud. Pacer Sayali Satghare, seam all-rounder Amanjot Kaura have also been recalled. Offspinner Sneh Rana also earned a recall thanks to her consistent WPL performances. She also impressed with 1/47 and 2/28 in the warm-up matches against ECB Women XI at Beckenham. However, the absence of seasoned pacers Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar leaves the pace unit thin on experience. The responsibility now shifts to Satghare and Amanjot, supported by Arundhati Reddy, to anchor India's seam attack. On the batting front, the top five remains settled and formidable. Smriti Mandhana, Shafali, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh provide a great balance of both stability and firepower. They will, however, be hoping for their all-rounders to step up with the bat as well. It will also be interesting to see whether the returning Harleen Deol and Yastika Bhatia also slot right back in. England, meanwhile, are already deep in preparation mode for the home World Cup. Under the new leadership duo of Nat Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards, they made a dominant statement earlier this month by sweeping both white-ball series against the West Indies 3-0. But Edwards has her sights firmly set on India, acknowledging that there lies a tougher challenge ahead. 'We absolutely know that, in a couple of weeks' time at Trent Bridge, that's going to be tough. They're one of the best teams in the world, they've got some of the best players, so we're going to have to be right on it when we get to the 28th of June. But we've taken a lot of confidence from this and that's the most important thing. We can only play what's in front of us and we'll look to do that again when we play against India,' she had said after the West Indies series win. The hosts welcome back world No. 1 T20I bowler Sophie Ecclestone, who rejoins the squad after a short break and missing the West Indies series. However, they'll be without former captain Heather Knight who is ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained during the West Indies series. She was England's leading run-scorer with 109 runs in 2 innings. Lauren Bell, meanwhile, was the leading wicket-taker with 7 wickets in 3 innings.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Harleen Deol ton in vain as India Women lose to ECB Development XI in warm-up One-Day fixture
India Women slumped to an 18-run loss against ECB Women's Development XI in a 50-over warm-up fixture at The County Ground, Beckenham here on Tuesday. After opting to bowl, India was put under pressure by the assured 196-run opening stand between Emma Lamb and Maia Bouchier. N. Sree Charani broke the partnership, dismissing Lamb in the 29th over. Bouchier, who made a sprightly 84-ball 104, retired from play. Charani, who made her ODI debut in April this year, was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets to her name. | Photo Credit: X/BCCI Women While skipper Hollie Armitage was dismissed courtesy a hit wicket off Charani's bowling, the English middle order came together to brave India's bowling attack. Alice Davidson-Richards (42 off 49 balls), and 34-run knocks from Paige Scholfield and Danni Wyatt Hodge helped England put up a score of 353 for the loss of five wickets. Charani, who made her ODI debut in April this year, was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets to her name. India's chase did not get off to the best start with Mahika Gaur dismissing Smriti Mandhana for a solitary run. Shafali Verma, who has found herself out of reckoning for the One-Day squad, surprisingly featured in this fixture and was sent in to open. However, any chance of making this a statement fixture vanished when she was dismissed by Ryana MacDonald-Gay for a 13-ball 16. Harleen Deol stitched two key partnerships, a 105-run stand with Yastika Bhatia and a 44-run stand with Harmanpreet Kaur (in picture). | Photo Credit: X/BCCI Women Harleen Deol then took on the responsibility of keeping India's score ticking. Despite going at about a run a ball initially, she slowed down as she anchored the chase, retiring with 91-ball 100 to her name. Comparison of the two centurions in this fixture | Photo Credit: Stats: ECB Key contributions from Yastika Bhatia (45-ball 32), Amanjot Kaur (32-ball 43) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur who scored a fluent fifty (47-ball 54) to get India close. However, India's age-old issues with its tail came back to hurt its chances, with the side falling short by 18 runs. The warm-up is one of two preparatory games slotted for the visitors ahead of the white ball tour of England which features five T20Is and three ODIs. Related Topics India / ECB
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
What is the ‘bunny hop' catch which MCC, ICC has deemed as illegal?
In a groundbreaking move, the MCC will be updating its law on boundary catches, and will be making the bunny hop move illegal. The new rule will be operational later this month. The bunny hop catch was supported by the existing Law 19.5.2, which states that the fielder's last contact with the ground before they first touch the ball must be within the boundary (this portion will remain in the new update). The fielder cannot touch the ball and the ground outside the boundary at the same time. If he or she complete the catch within those set criteria, then it is legal. Now the MCC has called it unfair, and also sent a note to ICC earlier this year, calling for a rule change. The new change will also now rule out spectacular catches which were accepted earlier. According to the MCC, the update would 'rule out some spectacular fielding that feels like it is now fully part of the game. Examples include catches from Harleen Deol (vs England in 2021) and Alex Hales (in BBL 2020), where the fielders don't reground themselves inside the boundary before taking the catch, but land inside the boundary to complete it.' The MCC further added, 'MCC has devised a new wording where the 'bunny hop' wholly beyond the boundary is removed, but these catches where the fielder pushes the ball up from inside the boundary, steps outside and then dives back in to catch the ball, are permitted.' 'Our solution has been to limit any fielder who has gone outside the boundary to touching the ball while airborne only once, and then, having done so, to be wholly grounded within the boundary for the rest of the duration of that delivery.'
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
SL-W vs IND-W: India scores its highest team score in away match during ODI Tri-Nation Series final
India women scored its highest ever score in an away game during the ODI Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. India posted 342 for seven in the first innings, surpassing its previous best score of 333 for five against England in Canterbury. This is now India's fifth-highest total in ODIs. Opting to bat, Smriti Mandhana led India's charge with 116 runs off 101 balls. She was given able support by Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues with cameo knocks. Deepti Sharma hit 20 off 14 balls to get the total past the 340-run mark. Overall, India's highest ever total in ODIs is 435/5 against Ireland in Rajkot earlier this year. India women highest score away from home: 1) 342/7 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo 2025 2) 333/5 vs England, Canterbury 2022 3) 302/3 vs South Africa, Kimberley 2018 4) 289/2 vs Pakistan, Karachi 2005 5) 281/3 vs England, Derby 2017
India Today
11-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Smriti Mandhana hits 11th ODI hundred in Tri series final vs Sri Lanka
Star India batter Smriti Mandhana brought up her 11th ODI century against Sri Lanka in the Tri series final on Sunday, May 11 at Stadium, Colombo. Mandhana played a scintillating innings of 116 (101) with the help of 15 fours and two sixes. The southpaw also climbed to the third spot in the list of most centuries in Women's ODIs surpassing England's Tammy Beaumont, who has ten centuries to her Meg Lanning (15 centuries) and Suzie Bates (13 centuries) are now ahead of Mandhana in the list. The opening batter began her innings cautiously after India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first. She got off the mark on her fourth delivery and scored his first boundary two balls later with a flick off his vs Sri Lanka Tri series final Updates Mandhana cleverly mixed caution with aggression as she unleashed her release shots time to time to unsettle Sri Lankan bowlers. She stitched a 70-run stand for the first wicket with Pratika Rawal off 89 deliveries as the duo began taking taking more risks after a cautious losing Rawal for 30 (49), Mandhana turned aggressor to not let the pressure mount on Harleen Deol. She brought her up second successive half century off 55 balls and took India's score past 100 in the 22nd over. After the 24th over, Mandhana quickly shifted gears and began a barrage of boundaries taking on Piumi Badalge and Dewmi Vihanga. The intent rubbed on to Deol as well as India reached the 150-mark in 29 on 88* (89) in the 30th over, Mandhana took on Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and hit her for four successive fours. As a result, she brought up her hundred off 92 balls and brought India into a commanding was finally dismissed for 116 while searching for a third consecutive boundary against Dewmi Vihanga but holed out at point. Her dismissal also brought an end to a massive 120-run stand off 106 balls for the second wicket with Harleen Deol (47 off 56).
