Shree Charani’s T20I debut for India Women was as impressive as it could be.
Her four-wicket haul (4/12 in 3.5 overs) destroyed England Women in the opening T20I of the series. The hosts were knocked out for a measly 113 in 14.5 overs, with India winning by 97 runs.
The 20-year-old became only the second Indian to score four wickets on her Women’s T20I debut, following Sravanthi Naidu’s 4/9 in three overs against Bangladesh Women in Cox’s Bazar in March 2014. Charani’s Trent Bridge victims included Alice Capsey (five out of six), Sophie Ecclestone (one out of four), Nat Sciver-Brunt (66 out of 42), and Lauren Bell (two out of four).
Indian bowlers to bag a four-fer on Women’s T20I debut:
| Player | Opposition | Year | Venue | Figures | Result |
| Sravanthi Naidu | Bangladesh Women | 2014 | Cox Bazar | 4/9 (3) | IND-W won by 16 runs |
| Shree Charani | England Women | 2025 | Trent Bridge | 4/9 (3.5) | IND-W won by 95 runs |
Coming into the game, IND-W put on a show after being asked to bat first. Smriti Mandhana, who led the side in Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence owing to a head injury acquired in the warm-up game, scored her first T20I tonne (112 off 62) to propel the team to 210/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Harleen Deol (43 off 23) and Smriti combined for a 94-run second-wicket stand off just 45 balls.
Apart from the skipper, Sciver-Brunt, no one from England put up a good fight with the bat. The English innings consisted of only one six and twelve fours. Sciver-Brunt scored ten of those twelve fours. Deepti Sharma (2/32 in three overs) and Radha Yadav (2/15 in two overs) both picked up wickets. In the women’s T20Is, India handed England the most crushing defeat in terms of runs.
The second game in the series will take place at Bristol’s County Ground. The match is set to begin on Tuesday, July 1, at 11 p.m. (IST). The Indian team would like to maintain their current momentum and double their lead.
