India Clinches Historic T20I Series Win Over England, Harmanpreet Credits WPL Impact

India sealed a landmark T20I series win against England with a commanding six-wicket victory in the fourth match at Manchester, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead. The result marked India’s first-ever women’s T20I series triumph over England, a significant milestone in the team’s growing stature on the international stage.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur lauded her side’s all-round performance and credited the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for preparing players for moments like these. “We are really grateful that we were able to do this. I’m really proud of my team—the way we played this series,” she said at the post-match presentation. “It was really important to get that momentum, and I’m really happy with the way we all contributed.”

The WPL, which concluded its third season earlier this year, has proven to be a valuable platform for emerging Indian talent. Many young players who impressed in the league have since earned national call-ups, and Harmanpreet believes the tournament has elevated the team’s game. “We’ve got a lot of experience from that. All of us played that tournament and got a lot of positivity. Good sign that we are now able to execute in international cricket also,” she added.

India set the tone for the series early, beginning with a dominant 97-run win in the opener and following it up with a 24-run win in Bristol, handing England their first-ever T20I defeat at that venue. On Wednesday, India’s spinners once again played a crucial role, restricting England to 126 for seven. The visitors chased down the target comfortably, with three overs to spare.

“We had very good camps back home before coming here. We worked on all our plans, and accordingly we executed everything. Everybody knew their role,” Kaur explained, underlining the team’s preparation and clarity.

England’s stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont, filling in for the injured Nat Sciver-Brunt, conceded her team was thoroughly outplayed. “Credit to India, they assessed conditions quickly. It was always going to be tough defending that score,” Beaumont said. “We needed around 150 to have a chance. We weren’t ruthless with the bat—myself included. It was a soft dismissal, not good enough at this level.”

Looking ahead, Beaumont expressed determination to finish the series strongly in the final T20I on July 12. The teams will then face off in a three-match ODI series starting July 16 in Southampton. “We want to put on a show for the home fans. The team is in a bit of a transition, and we’ll try to make it 3-2,” she said.