India Eyes Series Win but Needs Big Runs from Harmanpreet and Shafali

India’s women’s T20I team is just one win away from clinching the five-match series against England. But with form issues surrounding two of their biggest stars, the fourth match on Wednesday could go either way.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Shafali Verma haven’t exactly fired on all cylinders so far. And England’s five-run win in the third match at The Oval has thrown a spanner in India’s plans to seal this thing early.

Star Power, But the Spark Is Missing

Shafali’s numbers this series tell a frustrating story. A 25-ball 47 in the last game showed promise, sure. But it ended too soon. Before that? Scores of 20 and 3. She’s got the flair, the shots, the intent. But not the finishing.

Harmanpreet hasn’t fared much better. After missing the opener due to a head injury, her scores — 1 and 23 — hardly scream match-winner. These are the players expected to dominate. So far, they’ve flattered to deceive.

India will be hoping the duo find rhythm at the right time. The fourth match is crucial. Win it, and the series is theirs. Lose, and it’s 2-2 with all pressure on the decider.

Mandhana, Jemimah, Amanjot Holding the Fort

While the spotlight’s been on Shafali and Harmanpreet, others have quietly done the heavy lifting.

Smriti Mandhana has been India’s most reliable batter throughout the tour. Calm, composed, classy — she’s led the batting effort with grace. Jemimah Rodrigues, ever the busy bee, has provided the glue in the middle overs.

And then there’s Amanjot Kaur. She may not grab headlines, but her ability to rotate strike and chip in with timely boundaries has been massive.

One name missing from the last two matches? Harleen Deol.

• She smashed a quickfire 43 off 23 balls in the opener.

• Was dropped for Harmanpreet’s return.

• Many fans are wondering if that change was premature.

There’s now a genuine case for bringing her back — especially if the middle order keeps wobbling.

Spinners Stepping Up, Pacers Under the Pump

India’s spinners have been in top form this series. N Shree Charani’s emergence as a reliable wicket-taker has been the talking point. She’s grabbed 8 wickets already and looks comfortable handling the pressure.

Bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi can’t stop singing her praises.

“She’s very hardworking and has a good mindset,” Salvi said. “And she has those qualities to be successful at the international level.”

Deepti Sharma has chipped in with 6 wickets. Quietly effective, just like always. Arundhati Reddy has also made her presence felt with 4 wickets through tight lines and smart variations.

On the flip side, not everyone has kept the runs in check.

Radha Yadav and Amanjot Kaur have struggled with economy rates. Both have been conceding over 8.5 runs per over — not ideal in a format where every single run counts.

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England Still in the Fight

The hosts bounced back smartly in the third T20I, exposing the cracks in India’s batting depth.

Their bowlers hit the right lengths, especially in the last five overs. That’s where India lost the game. From a position of control, they slipped — and England didn’t let them recover.

Momentum’s a tricky thing. One win can change everything. And England knows that. They’ll come hard in the fourth game, with belief and a fresh plan.

India has the upper hand — but it’s not a wide gap.

What India Needs to Watch Out For

There are a few boxes India still needs to tick before they can feel confident about the series:

• Get a good start without losing wickets in the powerplay.

• Ensure Shafali or Harmanpreet — ideally both — bat deep into the innings.

• Improve fielding in pressure moments (there have been a few lapses).

• Support the frontline spinners with tighter overs from Radha and Amanjot.

Consistency has been elusive. When batting clicks, bowling leaks runs. When bowling looks sharp, batting loses steam midway.

They’ve won two games, but the victories weren’t flawless. Which means there’s work to do.

Match Stats So Far

Here’s how India’s key players have fared after three T20Is:

England’s leading bowlers have kept India in check by bowling tight lines and putting pressure at the death. Their spinners, too, have done well, especially considering the slowish nature of pitches.