England v India at Taunton – Big Names Give Their Predictions
England take on India in the final match of the Women’s IT20 series at the Cooper Associates County Ground on June 2nd.
This is your chance to see some of the best players in the world take to the field at the home of Somerset CCC.
Ticket prices start from just £17 for adults and £4 for juniors.
Ahead of the match (and the series) we spoke to some of the biggest names in the women’s game to preview the series, highlight the players to watch and give their view on who will come out on top!
Our panel of experts includes former internationals, journalists, commentators and broadcasters.
Erin Osborne – Somerset Women Head Coach
For me, this Women’s international T20 series between England and India comes at the perfect time. It feels like a proper dress rehearsal ahead of the T20 World Cup, and with places in the starting XI still up for grabs, it’s the last real chance for players to put their hand up and make a statement.
England and India are both right up there among the leading nations in women’s world cricket and I think both teams will fully expect to go deep into the World Cup. That’s what makes this series so interesting; it’s not just about winning games, it’s about finding momentum and settling combinations.
The way the women’s game has evolved, I’m expecting a lot of runs to be scored. Big scores feel inevitable to me, particularly in the final game at Taunton. It’s traditionally a great batting surface and I wouldn’t be surprised if that match ends up being the decider.
Players to watch
Dani Gibson and Smriti Mandhana are two players I’m really looking forward to watching. Both are explosive batters and have the ability to change games quickly.
Who will win?
I do think England’s home advantage could be key. Familiar conditions and strong crowd support give them a slight edge in my view and a 2–1 series win for England feels like a realistic outcome. That said, India have match winners who can shift momentum in a matter of overs.
Henry Moeran – Commentator and Reporter for BBC Sport & BBC TMS
This series promises to be one of the highlights of the international summer, and after a relatively quiet winter for England to be tuning up ahead of a home T20 World Cup by playing the recently crowned 50-over champions is a mouth-watering prospect.
Since the memorable success of 2017 England have failed to lift either an Ashes or ICC trophy, so much rides on the coming weeks and repeating the triumph of nine years ago.
India famously beat England in the opener of that tournament, at the time heralded as the shock the competition needed. These days, they’re one of the leading powers of the world game, of course, with investment in the Women’s Premier League having skyrocketed interest across the subcontinent.
As for England, Taunton has for so long felt like home with so many memorable successes down the years. Who can forget the world-record 250 for three in a T20 against South Africa in 2018?
It’s a very different England side these days, not just in terms of personnel but also the game’s professionalism more broadly. Just compare the prize money in 2017 – £489,000 for the winners – with today where the victors will receive £1.74m.
Players to watch
Nat Sciver-Brunt leads a side that are used to playing in the spotlight, and she’ll be crucial to England’s success. On a ground where she scored a brilliant Ashes century in 2023, we’ll see the tantalizing culmination of a series that could well dictate what we can expect from this big summer of women’s international cricket.
Names like Smriti Mandhana are now adorning billboards as much as their male counterparts, and she could play a pivotal role in India’s quest for a second ICC trophy in under a year.
For fans in Taunton, her qualities have been known about for many years. A fine century for India in the 2017 World Cup was followed by stellar years for Western Storm in 2018 and 2019 – she’ll relish a return to the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Who will win?
It’ll be a close series, but England will surely be favourites in home conditions.
Melissa Story – Commentator, Cricketer & 2023 CMJ Broadcaster of the Year
With a home World Cup looming for England, this T20 series against India is far more than a bilateral series. It feels like a dress rehearsal with real consequences. While the Ashes has historically been the sport’s showpiece rivalry, its increasing predictability over the past decade has elevated this contest into something arguably more compelling: the battle for second place.
For years, England occupied that second spot, with little pressure from below. But India’s rise has been anything but patient. Supercharged by the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and sustained domestic investment, this is a side playing a fearless brand of T20 cricket and one no longer willing to wait its turn.
Preparation adds another subplot. India arrive battle-hardened, having played three bilateral series since last autumn’s 50 over World Cup while, by contrast, England come off a lighter winter, using the time to regroup after a difficult 2025. The result? A litmus test of readiness versus reflection.
Players to watch
For England, Lauren Bell is impossible to ignore. Once a bowler of promise, she has grown into a leader of the attack, excelling with the new ball and at the death. Her WPL success means there will be no element of surprise for India, but her bounce, movement, and improved control is a threatening combination. If she finds rhythm in the powerplay, it can be an early death sentence.
India’s Sree Charani is equally exciting. After announcing herself with a memorable 4‑12 on T20 debut against England last summer, her consistency and adaptability stand out. With England’s well‑documented issues against spin, she could be pivotal to India’s success.
Who will win?Â
England’s experienced line-up, home advantage, and sharp focus ahead of the World Cup should just tip it 2‑1 to England but the margins will be fine and the contest high-quality.
Rosa Simkin – Journalist, Commentator and Podcaster
The upcoming England vs India series promises to be one of the most compelling contests in the women’s game this summer. What has quietly developed over recent years is now a full-blooded, gritty rivalry between two of the world’s best sides.
England will take confidence from their victory over India at the ODI World Cup in India, a tournament the hosts ultimately went on to win, but recent history favours the visitors. India dominated the multi-format series on English soil last summer, claiming both the T20 and ODI legs and exposing some of England’s long-standing vulnerabilities, particularly against spin. That remains a key battleground.
But this is a different-looking England side. Under the guidance of Charlotte Edwards, there is a renewed sense of direction. Selection is increasingly driven by domestic performance, a new generation of bowlers is emerging, and the attack is evolving, with greater emphasis on spin and variety. The rise of Lauren Bell as a leader of the pace unit and the return of the exciting Issy Wong add further intrigue.
Players to watch
For England, Issy Wong has forced her way back into contention after time out of the side, finishing as the leading wicket-taker in England’s recent inter-squad training series. Known for her genuine pace, dynamic approach with the ball, power hitting down the order and infectious energy in the field, she also brings valuable experience at Taunton from the regional era.
India boast one of the finest operators in the game in Deepti Sharma, whose control and consistency have repeatedly troubled England’s batting lineup. She underlined that dominance on last year’s tour of England, taking 10 wickets across the series and finishing as India’s leading wicket-taker in the T20s. Add in her extensive experience in English conditions through The Hundred, and she remains a major threat.
Who will win?
With a home World Cup on the horizon, England are under pressure to build momentum, but this time, they look better equipped to embrace it. Expect a fiercely competitive series, with England just edging it in a narrow victory.
Annie Chave – Journalist, Commentator & Editor of County Cricket Matters
I’ve been to a few international cricket matches in my time, and although the spectacle is fantastic at the larger Test Match stadiums, there is nothing like watching these world-class players in a smaller, friendlier environment. The Cooper Associates County Ground at Taunton is ideal, and with its history of women’s cricket it feels like the perfect place to have two of the strongest international women’s teams playing the third and final game of their series. The last time these two sides met in this country was in July last year, when England pulled off a last-ball victory at Edgbaston, but lost the series 3-2. Both sides are gearing up for the IT20 World Cup and will be keen to make full use of the batting paradise and shorter boundaries of this intimate ground. It’s going to be a fantastic series.
In their recent series against South Africa, India have been experimenting with their bowling combination, mixing up the line-up to ensure that their attack can perform in all phases of the game. It’s a brave move, and could well backfire, but it shows a clear intention to prepare for all conditions. Added to this, they have a long batting line-up and a fine array of all-rounders.
Charlotte Edwards’s feet remain firmly under the coaching bench. She will have a point to prove. Her players have been warming up in the county one-day games across the country, and England, as the home side, will be familiar with English conditions.
Players to watch
For England, the player to watch is the precociously talented Davina Perrin. Her recent innings for Warwickshire have kept her firmly in the frame, and come on the back of her 42-ball century in last year’s Hundred.
For India, I’m sticking with Smriti Mandhana because I love watching elegant left-handers and she’s one of the best. Plus, she is a prolific run scorer and, at only 29, she is both very experienced and in her prime.
Who will win?
I think England will win the series, but it won’t be easy. I’ll say 2-1.
Raf Nicholson – Journalist, Historian, Lecturer & Editor of CricketHer
This is the last international cricket before the T20 World Cup begins, and both sides have a point to prove: India are serious title contenders, and England will be desperate to do well at home. The XI who takes to the field in this series for England is likely to be THE World Cup XI, because head coach Charlotte Edwards will want them to get used to playing together, so it could be a nice sneaky peek of what we are going to see in the World Cup.
India are a curious side in T20 cricket – you never quite know which side is going to turn up – so it could be quite unpredictable! And if you are someone who loves sumptuous, pure cricket shots, even in 20-over cricket, then you will adore watching Smriti Mandhana bat.
Players to Watch
England – Heather Knight. Taunton is her home ground, she loves batting there, and this could be her last summer of international cricket so she’ll want to go out on a high.
India – Renuka Singh Thakur. The pace bowler loves English conditions and there’s nobody who swings the new ball further. Have a watch of her opening spell at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 against Australia at Edgbaston – it was phenomenal. She could well be in the wickets early again here.
Who will win?
India 2-1
Fran Wilson – Former England International & World Cup Winner
It’s going to be a really exciting summer. It will be incredible to have India over and to have the decider at Taunton is great. It’s brilliant for the game, and for the game in the South West. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to come down and watch some high-class cricket. This India team is certainly on the rise, especially with the IPL coming in over the last few years. There are certainly going to be some big superstars on show. Smriti Mandana has had a great history down in the southwest. So, to see her playing at Taunton again will be incredible for everyone. It’s great to see that Heather Knight, Charlie Dean and Dani Gibson will be in the squad for the India series and we’ve seen how good they are in the first few games of the domestic season. For them to put on the England shirt and represent their county down in Taunton will be great for them, but also for all the supporters and people involved at the Club.
Players to watch
For India you can’t really look too far past Smriti Mandana. She’s just such a high-class player, but I always think Dipti Sharma is a player who goes under the radar a little bit. She’s a game changer and I don’t think she gets the credit she deserves sometimes. She’s also had a great history down in the South West with Western Storm so I’m going for my former storm trooper teammates Smriti and Dipti.
This isn’t just because she’s a Somerset player and I know her well, but I honestly think Dani Gibson is one of the most exciting players in the country. It’s just her all-round game. She can bowl in every phase of the game, she can smash it out of the park and I truly believe she’s one of the best fielders in the country as well. She’s a really exciting player for everyone to follow and watch this summer.
Who will win?
I’m going to have to say England. I think the home conditions will be on their side and with a fantastic crowd behind them at Taunton I think they’ll have the edge.
Georgie Heath – Broadcaster, Commentator, Presenter & Journalist
Summer 2026 is set to be one of the biggest ever for women’s cricket in England with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup returning to English shores for the first time since 2009. The action in that tournament all kicks off on the 12th June but the good news for those who can’t wait that long is that England will first be in T20 action against World ODI champions, India. The final game in this three-match series heads to Taunton for what could be a decider between two titans of the women’s game. Imagine this – pitch side in the sun with a Thatchers in hand while the two teams do battle to take winning momentum into the World Cup. What a dream!
Players to Watch
Now, when it comes to who to watch out for, it’s hard to pick just one English player. Three of Somerset’s finest in Heather Knight, Dani Gibson and Charlie Dean will be in action, but in a game that so often belongs to batters these days, keep your eyes on that speed gun because pacers Lauren Filer and Issy Wong are looking to ramp it up. Both have stated that hitting that 80mph mark is the goal, so get down to the Cooper Associates County Ground to see them in action and get a gauge of just how fast they really are.
When it comes to India, it is very hard to look past Smriti Mandhana. India’s vice-captain was named India’s Best International Cricketer (women) for the fifth time in her career after her antics in 2024-25. Having been integral to the side that won the ODI World Cup for the first time, the classy left-handed bat will be looking to fine-tune her skills in this final T20I before she and the team
Who will win?
2-1 England. England win the first match, India the second and England the third at Taunton.
Nick Howsen – The Cricketer’s Digital Editor
Of all the assignments England are facing before their home T20 World Cup none are more formidable or threatening than India. Indeed, it is a litmus test ahead of the tournament in the coming weeks.
Being beaten 3-2 last summer – India wrapped up the series with a game to spare – was a real reality check in the opening months of the Charlotte Edwards era.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will, in the eyes of many, be the favourites for the title; they have an opportunity to backup winning their first Cricket World Cup by scoop a maiden T20 crown and thus hold them both simultaneously.
Winning the T20I leg of their tour of Australia only enhances their case, even if they were swatted aside by South Africa in April.
They’ll be hosted by a familiar-looking England who, despite the clamour for change, have largely stuck with the tried-and-tested players this summer.
Edwards is using these games to establish her best XI and there are questions to answer: Will there be changes to the established top order? Who takes the death overs? Which spinners will get the nod?
Players to watch
Tilly Corteen-Coleman. The teenage left-arm spinner has breathed fresh life into the group. She has risen to every challenge set of her, so facing one of the best teams in the world – shortly after being exposed to the reigning world champions – is unlikely to faze her.
India will be primed to take advantage of this uncertainty and will be well-fancied to scoop the series to accelerate their own World Cup preparations. You can’t look much beyond Smriti Mandhana, a centurion at Trent Bridge last summer, being a central figure – a player Edwards knows well.
Who will win?
I’ll go India 2-1.
