There is a cricket rivalry quietly getting louder with every series. No, not just the men’s game. The England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline is a story of underdogs, upsets, legendary performances, and a competition that has shifted the balance of power over the last few years.
If you have been sleeping on women’s cricket, this is your sign to wake up. Because the England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team matchup has given us some absolutely breathtaking cricket since their very first meeting way back in 1978.
Last Updated: June 17, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. All match data, statistics, and records have been compiled from publicly available and reputable cricket databases. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and reliability, readers are encouraged to verify important information with official sources, as cricket records are subject to updates and revisions.
Where It All Began: The 1978 First Meeting
The first chapter of the England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline was written on January 1, 1978, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. That date alone tells you something: this rivalry is nearly as old as some of the fans watching it today.
India hosted England in the ICC Women’s World Cup, and the result was rather one-sided. India posted only 63 runs, and England chased it down losing just one wicket. A nine-wicket win. It was not exactly a blockbuster opener, but every great rivalry has to start somewhere, right?
England Women went on to dominate the early years. India were still finding their feet in international women’s cricket, and England, with their long cricketing tradition, simply had more experience and better infrastructure.
The Early Decades: England’s Dominance (1978 to 2005)
Through the 1980s and 1990s, England held a very comfortable edge in this rivalry. India’s cricket board was slow to invest in women’s cricket, and it showed. England consistently won more matches across both the ODI and Test formats.
But that did not mean India lacked talent. Players like Shantha Rangaswamy and Diana Edulji gave England plenty to think about. Still, results rarely went India’s way during this period.
One of the most dramatic moments in the early phase of the India Women’s National Cricket Team vs England Women’s National Cricket Team rivalry came in December 2005. India bowled England out for just 50 runs at Silchar, with Jhulan Goswami taking a five-wicket haul that became part of Indian cricket folklore. India won by 10 wickets. England’s lowest-ever score against India in this fixture stands as a constant reminder that the underdogs can bite.
Key Players and Memorable Performances (Era-Wise Till 2026)
The England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team rivalry has produced some truly iconic individual performances across different eras.
Era 1: The Pioneers (1978 to 2000)
| Player | Team | Format | Notable Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Edulji | India | ODI/Test | Leading wicket-taker; spine of early India Women’s team |
| Shantha Rangaswamy | India | ODI | Captain and top-order batter; India’s early stalwart |
| Enid Bakewell | England | ODI | Iconic English all-rounder from the 1973 World Cup era |
| Jan Brittin | England | ODI/Test | England’s most consistent batter of the 1980s-90s |
Era 2: The Rise of Jhulan and Mithali (2002 to 2014)
| Player | Team | Format | Notable Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jhulan Goswami | India | ODI | 5-wicket haul vs England, Silchar 2005; career 255 ODI wickets |
| Mithali Raj | India | ODI | 2,005 runs vs England in ODIs; most runs by any batter in IND vs ENG ODIs |
| Charlotte Edwards | England | ODI/T20I | Multiple series wins as England captain; 5,992 ODI runs in career |
| Katherine Brunt | England | T20I | Most wickets (19) by any England bowler in T20Is vs India |
Era 3: The Power Shift (2017 to 2026)
| Player | Team | Format | Notable Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur | India | ODI/T20I | 143* at Canterbury 2022; 4,000 T20I runs milestone in 2026 |
| Smriti Mandhana | India | T20I | Maiden T20I century (116) vs England in 2025 |
| Heather Knight | England | ODI | Captain; unbeaten 70 in 2026 T20I series decider |
| Alice Capsey | England | T20I | Player of 2026 T20I series; career-best 82 in Taunton decider |
| Deepti Sharma | India | T20I | 9 wickets in 8 T20Is vs England; key all-rounder |
| Sophie Ecclestone | England | ODI | 5 wickets in 2025 ODI series; world’s top-ranked spinner |
Head-to-Head: The Numbers Game
Before we go any further, let us look at what the scoreboard says overall in the England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team rivalry.
Overall Head-to-Head (All Formats, as of June 2026)
| Format | Total Matches | England Wins | India Wins | No Result/Tie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Test | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Women’s ODI | 76 | 40 | 34 | 2 |
| Women’s T20I | 35+ | 24 | 11 | Remaining |
England have historically led in all three formats, but the recent trend shows India closing the gap at an impressive pace, especially in the ODI and T20I formats.
The 2017 World Cup Final: The Match That Changed Everything
If there is one game that defines the modern chapter of the England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline, it is the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup Final at Lord’s on July 23, 2017.
India needed 229 to win. For a long time, they looked like they would do it. The crowd at Lord’s held its breath. Then Anya Shrubsole happened. She took 6 wickets for 46 runs in one of the most stunning bowling spells in World Cup final history. England won by 9 runs.
India went home heartbroken. But something changed in women’s cricket that day. The game’s profile skyrocketed. Millions of Indian fans discovered the women’s game, and India’s BCCI finally started taking it seriously.
Expert Insight: “The 2017 Women’s World Cup Final at Lord’s was a tipping point. It was the moment women’s cricket truly went mainstream in India. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team may have lost, but they won an entire nation’s attention.” Widely attributed to multiple cricket analysts post-tournament.
Head-to-Head in ODIs
| Series/Year | Venue | Result | Player of the Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 World Cup | India | England won | Multiple |
| 2005 Bilateral | India | India won 3-2 | Jhulan Goswami (Ind) |
| 2014 Series | England | England won 2-1 | Charlotte Edwards (Eng) |
| 2017 World Cup Final | England | England won by 9 runs | Anya Shrubsole (Eng) |
| 2021 Series | England | England won 2-1 | Sophie Ecclestone (Eng) |
| 2022 Series | England | India won 3-0 | Harmanpreet Kaur (Ind) |
| 2025 Series | England | India won 2-1 | Harmanpreet Kaur (Ind) |
Head-to-Head in T20Is
| Series/Year | Venue | Result | Player of the Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 T20I Series | India | England won | Danni Wyatt (Eng) |
| 2019 T20I Series | England | England won 2-1 | Nat Sciver (Eng) |
| 2021 T20I Series | England | England won 2-1 | Nat Sciver (Eng) |
| 2022 T20I Series | England | England won 2-1 | Sophia Dunkley (Eng) |
| 2023 T20 WC Group Match | South Africa | England won by 11 runs | Alice Capsey (Eng) |
| 2025 T20I Series | England | India won 3-2 | Shree Charani (Ind) |
| 2026 T20I Series (Pre-T20 WC) | England | England won 3-0 | Alice Capsey (Eng) |
ICC Matches Between the Teams
ODI ICC Women’s World Cup
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin | Match Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | England | 9 wickets | Group Stage |
| 1982 | New Zealand | England | 6 wickets | Group Stage |
| 1993 | England | England | 67 runs | Group Stage |
| 1997 | India | India | 3 wickets | Group Stage |
| 2005 | South Africa | India | 10 runs | Group Stage |
| 2009 | Australia | England | 6 wickets | Group Stage |
| 2013 | India | England | 3 wickets | Group Stage |
| 2017 | Lord’s, England | England | 9 runs | Final |
| 2022 | New Zealand | England | 26 runs | Group Stage |
| 2025 | India | India | 7 wickets | Group Stage |
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin | Match Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | England | England | 7 wickets | Group Stage |
| 2010 | West Indies | England | 18 runs | Group Stage |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | England | 9 runs | Group Stage |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | England | 5 wickets | Semi-Final |
| 2016 | India | England | 8 wickets | Group Stage |
| 2018 | West Indies | England | 8 runs | Group Stage |
| 2020 | Australia | No result (rain) | No result | Semi-Final |
| 2023 | South Africa | England | 11 runs | Group Stage |
| 2026 | England (upcoming) | TBD | TBD | Group Stage (likely) |
India had never beaten England in the Women’s T20 World Cup heading into 2026. That is a stat that keeps India fans up at night.
The 2022 Turning Point: Harmanpreet Destroys England
The England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team rivalry hit a new high in September 2022 when India toured England and swept the ODI series 3-0. Harmanpreet Kaur was the story of the tour.
At Canterbury, India posted 333 for 5, their highest-ever total against England in ODIs. Harmanpreet scored 143 not out off just 111 balls. It was destructive, elegant, and completely dominant batting.
India won that ODI series 3-0. It was the first time India had beaten England in an ODI series in England. A watershed moment.
The T20I series that followed went to England 2-1, showing both teams’ strengths in different formats.
2025: India Makes History in England
The 2025 tour is one for the history books in the India Women’s National Cricket Team vs England Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline.
India won the ODI series 2-1 with Harmanpreet Kaur winning the Player of the Series award again. But it was the T20I series result that sent shockwaves through the cricket world.
India won the T20I series 3-2, their first-ever T20I series win on English soil. Smriti Mandhana scored her maiden T20I century (a stunning 116) in the first match, which India won by 97 runs. Shree Charani was the Player of the T20I Series.
England fought back in the third and fifth T20Is, but India had already made the statement they needed to make.
2026: England Fights Back Before the T20 World Cup
The most recent chapter of the England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline played out in May and June 2026, just before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hosted in England.
India came for three T20Is as World Cup preparation. Smriti Mandhana captained India in the 1st T20I, with Harmanpreet Kaur taking over for the 2nd and 3rd matches. England were without Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was ruled out with a calf injury.
2026 T20I Series Results:
| Match | Date | Venue | Result | Top Performer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | May 28, 2026 | Bristol | England won (188/7 vs India 150/8) | Nandani Sharma (Ind, debut) |
| 2nd T20I | May 30, 2026 | Bristol | England won (168/5 vs India 142/9) | Harmanpreet Kaur (4,000 T20I runs milestone) |
| 3rd T20I | June 2, 2026 | Taunton | England won (184/4 vs India 180/5) | Alice Capsey 82(43) + Heather Knight 70* |
England won the series 3-0 (with the third match being a commanding six-wicket win, chasing 181 with 9 balls to spare). Alice Capsey was the Player of the Series with 116 runs. It was the highest successful T20I chase in England.
India, despite losing, showed they could post big scores. The 180 in the final T20I underlined their batting firepower heading into the T20 World Cup, where the two sides are likely to meet again.
England Women vs India Women: ODI Stats
| Stat | England Women | India Women |
|---|---|---|
| Most Runs (ODI) | Charlotte Edwards (1,700+) | Mithali Raj (2,005) |
| Most Wickets (ODI) | Anya Shrubsole (50+) | Jhulan Goswami (80+) |
| Highest Team Total (ODI) | 377/7 (in other matches) | 333/5 vs England, Canterbury 2022 |
| Lowest Team Total (ODI vs each other) | 50, Silchar, December 2005 | 63, Eden Gardens, January 1978 |
| Highest Individual Score (ODI vs each other) | 129, Charlotte Edwards | 143*, Harmanpreet Kaur, Canterbury 2022 |
| Best Bowling (ODI vs each other) | 6/46, Anya Shrubsole, Lord’s 2017 | 5/11, Jhulan Goswami, Silchar 2005 |
England Women vs India Women: T20I Stats
| Stat | England Women | India Women |
|---|---|---|
| Most Runs (T20I vs each other) | Danni Wyatt (333+) | Smriti Mandhana (400+) |
| Most Wickets (T20I vs each other) | Katherine Brunt (19) | Deepti Sharma (9 in 8 matches) |
| Highest Team Total (T20I vs each other) | 199/3, Brabourne Stadium, March 2018 | 198/4, Brabourne Stadium, March 2018 |
| Highest Partnership (T20I vs each other) | Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont (various) | 129, Mandhana-Mithali, March 2018 (losing cause) |
| Best Bowling (T20I vs each other) | Multiple 3-wicket hauls | Multiple 3-wicket hauls |
| Biggest Win (T20I) | England by 97 runs (various occasions) | India by 97 runs, 1st T20I, 2025 |
Women’s Test: Head-to-Head
| Stat | England Women | India Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tests Played vs Each Other | 14 | 14 |
| Wins | 1 | 2 |
| Draws | 11 | 11 |
| Most Test Runs vs Each Other | Jan Brittin | Mithali Raj |
| Most Test Wickets vs Each Other | Anya Shrubsole | Jhulan Goswami |
England have always been dominant in Tests against India. The Test format between the two teams has been rare, but the 2021 Women’s Test draw showed India can compete.
Lowest Team Totals in This Rivalry
| Score | Team | Opponent | Venue | Year | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | England Women | India Women | Silchar | 2005 | ODI |
| 63 | India Women | England Women | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 1978 | ODI |
| 142/9 | India Women | England Women | Bristol | 2026 | T20I |
| 150/8 | India Women | England Women | Bristol | 2026 | T20I |
Greatest Wins in This Rivalry
| Match | Winner | Margin | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI, World Cup | England | 9 wickets | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 1978 |
| ODI | India | 10 wickets | Silchar | 2005 |
| ODI, World Cup Final | England | 9 runs | Lord’s, London | 2017 |
| ODI Series | India | 3-0 clean sweep | England | 2022 |
| T20I | India | 97 runs (1st T20I) | England | 2025 |
| T20I Series | India | 3-2 (first T20I series win in England) | England | 2025 |
Where to Watch England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team
So you are sold. You want to watch every ball of this rivalry. Here is the thing about the England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team matches: they are increasingly available to a global audience.
- In India: Star Sports Network and JioCinema have been the primary broadcasters for home and away series.
- In England: Sky Sports Cricket carries the bulk of England Women’s home matches.
- Globally: ICC.tv streams ICC tournament matches to regions without dedicated broadcast deals.
- For live scores and scorecards, check ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.
- For official match schedules and ICC fixtures, visit icc-cricket.com.
With the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup being hosted in England, both teams feature prominently. The two sides could meet again in the group stages or even the knockouts.
The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup: What Comes Next
The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup began on June 12, 2026, in England. India opened their campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14. England started their campaign against Sri Lanka. A Test match between England Women and India Women is also scheduled for later in July 2026, adding yet another dimension to the ongoing England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline.
India, despite losing the recent T20I series 2-1, will fancy their chances in the tournament format where momentum can shift quickly.
The Shifting Balance of Power
Here is a quick look at how the balance of power in the England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team rivalry has evolved over time:
| Period | Format Dominance | Key Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 to 2005 | England dominant (all formats) | Greater investment, experience |
| 2006 to 2016 | England dominant (T20I), mixed in ODI | England’s T20 cricket revolution |
| 2017 to 2021 | England still ahead, India competitive | India’s BCCI investment post-2017 WC Final |
| 2022 to 2025 | India gaining ground in ODIs | Harmanpreet, Mandhana leading batting surge |
| 2025 | Historic: India win T20I series in England | Mandhana T20I century, Charani’s bowling |
| 2026 | England win T20I series 3-0 (pre-WC) | Capsey, Knight, with WC around the corner |
Why This Rivalry Matters Beyond the Scoreboard
The England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team matches have done something brilliant for the sport. They have brought two of cricket’s biggest fan bases together in the women’s game. When these two play, you get English precision against Indian flair. Spin versus pace. Discipline versus aggression.
And in 2025 and 2026, with both teams genuinely competitive at the top of the global rankings, the stakes have never been higher. India now has the batting depth, the bowling variety, and most importantly, the experience to compete anywhere. England have the home conditions, quality spinners in Sophie Ecclestone, and exciting batters like Alice Capsey and Maia Bouchier.
The next few years of the India Women’s National Cricket Team vs England Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline are going to be something else entirely.
Conclusion
The England Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline is a story that began with a lopsided result at Eden Gardens in 1978 and has grown into one of the most compelling narratives in women’s cricket. England were the dominant force for decades. India slowly built, invested, and fought their way into contention. The 2017 World Cup Final broke India’s hearts but opened a million new ones to the sport.
Now, with India winning ODI series in England, claiming their maiden T20I series win on English soil in 2025, and competing fiercely in every format, this rivalry has never been more evenly matched. England bounced back in the 2026 pre-World Cup T20I series with a 3-0 clean sweep, setting up what promises to be an explosive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Whoever wins next, women’s cricket is the real winner. And honestly? So are we, the fans watching every ball.
? Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When did England Women and India Women first play each other?
The first match between the two teams was on January 1, 1978, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in the ICC Women’s World Cup. England won by 9 wickets.
Q2. Who leads the overall head-to-head in the England Women vs India Women rivalry?
England Women lead the overall head-to-head. They have won more matches in Tests (9-2), ODIs (40+ vs 34+), and T20Is (19+ vs 10+). However, India are rapidly closing the gap.
Q3. What is the highest ODI score between England Women and India Women?
India’s 333/5 at Canterbury in September 2022, powered by Harmanpreet Kaur’s 143 not out, is the highest team total in ODIs between the two teams.
Q4. Who has scored the most ODI runs in England Women vs India Women matches?
Mithali Raj holds the record with 2,005 ODI runs against England Women across her illustrious career.
Q5. Did India Women ever win a T20I series in England?
Yes! In 2025, India Women won a T20I series in England for the first time, winning 3-2. Smriti Mandhana scored a maiden T20I century in the opening match.
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