After losing back to back matches in the Women’s World Cup, the Indian team management decided to tweak their strategy a bit and play an additional bowler against England in the crucial fixture against England on Sunday. This meant that Renuka Singh Thakur made her way into the playing XI while batter Jemimah Rodrigues was left out.
With plenty of chatter around the decision, former England captain Nasser Hussain felt that it was a positive change, considering India failed to defend 330 runs against Australia in their last match. The Women in Blue had also fumbled against South Africa where the Proteas chased down 252 runs and handed India their first defeat in the tournament on October 9.
“I mean they lost two close games and they have played a lot of cricket in those close games and they had a week off to reflect on it. And they obviously thought ‘well, e are playing well but we got 330 against Australia and we still lose. We need the extra bowling option’. They got 5 and Harmanpreet who doesn’t bowl a lot. So they have gone with Renuka Singh Thakur,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.
“I think it’s a good change” 🗣️
Nasser Hussain discusses India bringing in Renuka Singh for Jemimah Rodrigues 🔄 pic.twitter.com/ptW2WssaTn
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 19, 2025
“There’s two ways of looking at it. I think they also know that England are vulnerable with the ball swinging in and so Renuka Singh Thakur does that. She’s got a very good record against England as well so I think that’s a good change. But obviously you lose with one and gain with the other and vice versa. They are now a batter short with Jemimah Rodrigues left out,” he added.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bat against India in a crucial Women’s World Cup match. As far as the England team’s change is concerned, Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell are back in the XI after recovering from illness. India must win this contest to avoid making their next two games a knockout.
