The next match against England is crucial for the Indian women’s cricket team in the ODI World Cup. A defeat could seriously threaten Team India’s elimination from the tournament. This contest isn’t just between two teams, but also a major battle between the world’s number one batsman, Smriti Mandhana, and the world’s number one bowler, Sophie Ecclestone.
The clash between these two top players is making this match a highly exciting one for millions of Indian fans. Let’s explore the records of these two greats and why special caution will be needed against Sophie Ecclestone in this match.
A Fierce Battle Between Two World No. 1s
According to the latest ICC rankings, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana is currently the number one batswoman in women’s ODI cricket, while England’s Sophie Ecclestone is the number one bowler. When two top batting and bowling stars face each other, the excitement of cricket is sure to reach its peak.
Mandhana vs Ecclestone
This will be the 13th time Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Ecclestone will face each other in ODI cricket. In the last 12 matches, Smriti Mandhana has scored 105 runs off 145 balls bowled by Ecclestone, but Ecclestone has dismissed her four times during this period. This statistic shows that Ecclestone has always been a major challenge for Smriti.
Why Sophie Ecclestone needs to be especially cautious
There’s a need to be cautious about Sophie Ecclestone in the 2025 Women’s World Cup, and the reason isn’t just her number-one ranking. Sophie Ecclestone is a left-arm spinner, and India is the team that has lost the most wickets to left-arm spinners in this World Cup. The Indian team has conceded 15 wickets to left-arm spinners so far, which is a matter of serious concern.
Performance in the Current Tournament
Sophie Ecclestone has had an impressive performance in the World Cup 2025. She has taken a total of nine wickets in the three ODIs she has played so far, achieving a wicket-taking ratio of three wickets per match. Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana has scored 134 runs in four ODIs, with her strong 80-run innings in the last match against Australia being crucial.
Mandhana and Harmanpreet Close to a Record
Smriti Mandhana also has a great opportunity to achieve a special milestone against England. Smriti needs only 58 runs to reach 1,000 ODI runs against England. If she does so, she will become the second Indian woman player, after Mithali Raj, to achieve this feat against England.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is also close to a major milestone; she needs just 45 runs to reach 1,000 runs. However, Harmanpreet will also have to be wary of Sophie Ecclestone, who has dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur three times in the last 10 ODIs. Millions of fans will be watching this high-voltage match today.