The Big Picture

After beating the White Ferns' at their home, the Women in Blue are all geared up to lock horns with the 50-over World Cup champions, England as they lock horns in the first ODI at Mumbai on Saturday.

This will be a crucial series for both sides in the context of the ODI World Championship and the qualification for the 2021 World Cup.

India will also want to avenge the loss they had suffered at the hands of England in two marquee clashes over the last two years. For, England was the team that shattered the Women in Blue's dream of winning the 50-over [2017] and T20 World Cup [2018].

India's opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues and the spin trio of Bist, Poonam Yadav and all-rounder Deepti Sharma were at the heart of their 2-1 win against the White Ferns', and will once again be the template on the slow pitches at home.

The hosts will miss the services of vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Kaur's injury gives a chance to a 20-year-old Harleen Deol to stamp her authority in the fledgling middle-order.

The World Champions, on the other hand, will hope to avenge the 2-1 defeat they had suffered at the hands of India last year, and register their first-ever series win in India. The batting unit will be boosted by the return of Sarah Taylor which is already formidable with the presence of Dani Wyatt, Natalie Sciver, Tammy Beaumont, and skipper Heather Knight.

The bowling unit, on the other hand, will be spearheaded by the likes of Anya Shrubsole, Laura Marsh, Georgia Elwiss and Sophie Ecclestone.

Match Details

Venue- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

When- Friday, February 22, 2019, 09:00 AM IST

Head-to-Head-

Total- 64

Won by India- 28

Won by England- 36

Team News & Playing 11

India will be without the services of vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been ruled out due to an ankle injury.

Playing 11- 

Mithali Raj [c], Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Mansi Joshi, Poonam Raut, Jhulan Goswami, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia [wk]

For England, Katherine Brunt and Sarah Taylor return to the ODI set-up

Playing 11-

Heather Knight [c], Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor [wk], Danielle Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Laura Marsh, Amy Jones.