India Women's Cricket Team Struggles in T20 World Cup Preparations Against England The India women's cricket team faced a challenging encounter against England in a T20 World Cup preparation match on Wednesday. The rain-affected game saw the team struggle throughout, but Richa Ghosh's determined batting kept hopes alive until the final over. Despite her efforts, the team fell short of victory, highlighting the difficulties in their preparations for the global tournament. The match, part of India's three-match T20 series against England, marked another setback for the team. In the first game of the series, India had defeated West Indies by 26 runs, but the second match against England proved tougher. England's strong performance, led by opener Amy Jones (64) and middle-order batswoman Nat Sciver-Brunt (57), set a formidable total. However, the real threat came from Daniel Gibson, who smashed 30 runs off just 12 balls, propelling the team to 171. India's bowling attack failed to contain the damage, with Shreyasi Patel taking two wickets but the rest of the pace and spin bowlers struggling to curb the run flow. The lack of wickets for the fast bowlers has raised concerns ahead of the World Cup, as the team looks to refine their attack. In the batting lineup, the opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma managed only 8 runs before collapsing, while the rest of the batters failed to contribute significantly. Richa Ghosh, however, stood out with a gritty 68 off 36 balls, keeping the team in the game. Her innings, though cut short by a dismissal in the final over, prevented a complete collapse. The series against England has been a mixed bag for India, with a win in the first match but a loss in the second.#england_cricket_team #richa_ghosh #india_women_cricket_team #nat_sciver_brunt #amy_jones
England Women Win 5 Runs vs India | T20 World Cup Warm-up; Richa Ghosh Fifty Goes In Vain England Women secured a narrow 5-run victory over India in a T20 World Cup warm-up match held in Cardiff. The hosts posted 171 runs in 20 overs, with captain Heather Knight and Amy Jones playing pivotal roles. India, despite a half-century from Richa Ghosh, could only manage 166 runs in 19.5 overs, falling short by five runs. Knight and Jones formed a formidable partnership, scoring 70 runs together in the middle order. Knight, who hit 57 runs, and Jones, who contributed 64, steadied the innings after a shaky start. England's batting lineup showed resilience, with Knight's aggressive strokeplay and Jones' composed approach keeping the scoreboard ticking. The innings was further bolstered by Danielle Wyatt, who scored 30 runs off 12 balls in the final overs, pushing the total to 171. India's batting lineup struggled to find momentum, with key players falling early. Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhattacharya, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur all departed for single-digit scores. Richa Ghosh, batting at number six, provided a brief reprieve, scoring 68 runs off 36 balls. Her innings included a boundary and a six in the final over, but India's chase faltered as they needed 38 runs from the last two overs. Ghosh's 68 runs came at a crucial juncture, but the team's inability to capitalize on her efforts proved costly. In the final over, India needed 17 runs, but a catch off the first ball of the over and a wicket on the next delivery sent them tumbling to 166. Ghosh, along with other batters, failed to reach double figures, highlighting the team's struggles in the final stages of the innings.#richa_ghosh #india_women #england_women #amy_jones #heather_knight
Smriti Mandhana leads Indian presence as Richa, Deepti land deals in women's draft for The Hundred India’s Smriti Mandhana dominated the women’s player draft for The Hundred, securing a direct signing with Manchester Super Giants alongside Australia’s Meg Lanning and England’s Sophie Ecclestone. Compatriot Richa Ghosh also made headlines after being acquired by Manchester Super Giants for £50,000 (approximately ₹61 lakh), while all-rounder Deepti Sharma joined SunRisers Leeds at a reported £27,500 (around ₹34 lakh). The auction, held on March 11, 2026, saw 178 players compete for contracts, with 28 already retained or signed by franchises prior to the event. The Hundred, set to begin on July 21 and conclude on August 16, allocated a total purse of £880,000 per women’s franchise. After direct signings and retentions, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Southern Brave, and Trent Rockets retained £520,000 each for the draft. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, SunRisers Leeds, and Welsh Fire had slightly larger budgets, with £570,000 remaining before bidding commenced. Richa Ghosh’s £50,000 deal marked a significant milestone for her career, as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter became the first player from her country to secure a contract in the league. Manchester Super Giants’ strategic move to sign both Mandhana and Ghosh strengthened their squad, while SunRisers Leeds’ acquisition of Deepti Sharma highlighted the team’s focus on experienced all-rounders. Notably, India’s Yastika Bhatia and Sree Charani were left out of the draft, failing to attract bids. The auction underscored the competitive nature of the league, with franchises vying for talent amid limited financial resources.#smriti_mandhana #sunrisers_leeds #richa_ghosh #deepti_sharma #manchester_super_giants
