At the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England, the Indian women's team finds itself at a knife's edge, where a single slip could end its campaign. The defeat against South Africa has turned every remaining fixture into a do-or-die affair for Harmanpreet Kaur's side. With that pressure mounting, the team management has taken two bold calls ahead of the must-win clash against Bangladesh in Manchester.
Learning from the last loss, the think tank has dropped pace bowler Arundhati Reddy and leg spinner Prema Rawat. In their place, new-ball specialist Renuka Singh Thakur and experienced spin all-rounder Radha Yadav have returned to the side. These moves were not sudden; the groundwork was laid in the previous match itself.
The South Africa defeat raised questions
On a slow and difficult pitch at Old Trafford, India's batters fought hard to post 158/7. In T20 cricket that total was considered safe and match-winning, but Marizanne Kapp had other plans. She first picked up two crucial wickets with the ball and then smashed an unbeaten 81 with the bat. On the back of that innings, South Africa chased down the target in the final over, losing 6 wickets. The result made India's path to the semifinals tougher and put big question marks on the bowling attack.
Why Arundhati and Prema were dropped
In a tournament this big, no player gets a long rope to rediscover form, which is exactly why Arundhati Reddy and Prema Rawat had to make way. Arundhati is regarded as a versatile and naturally well-suited T20 cricketer, yet in the first two matches of this World Cup, against Pakistan and South Africa, she was completely ineffective and failed to take even a single wicket.
Prema Rawat had been added to the squad as a late replacement for the injured Shreyanka Patil. She got her chance against South Africa but could not make an impression with the ball, and so she had to sit out.
Faith in Radha despite the mistake
Interestingly, Radha Yadav was in the spotlight in the last match for the wrong reason. Just as the game was tilting India's way, she put down a very simple and decisive catch of Marizanne Kapp in the deep, a lapse that eventually became a major reason for the loss. Even so, the management has kept its faith in her. Radha is currently rated among the country's finest fielders, so the team hopes she will put that error behind her and find her old rhythm. She will not only need to bowl economically through the middle overs but also chip in with the bat lower down the order.
Renuka expected to strike in the powerplay
On the other side, the team has the same old expectation from Renuka Singh Thakur, the one she is known for, taking wickets with swing in the powerplay. If she can rattle Bangladesh's top order in her opening spell, the opposition will fall well behind in the match. That said, the truth is that neither of these returning players has been in great recent form. So if India want to go further in this World Cup, both will have to deliver their best today.
Bangladesh win the toss
In this crucial Manchester encounter, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana won the toss and chose to bat first, inviting India to bowl. India will now have to restrict Bangladesh to a low score so they can also improve their net run rate.
India's Playing XI against Bangladesh
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur and Nandini Sharma.
