{"id":245685,"date":"2026-05-28T20:59:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T20:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/28\/yastika-bhatia-and-jemimah-rodrigues-overpower-england-in-first-t20-international\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T20:59:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T20:59:35","slug":"yastika-bhatia-and-jemimah-rodrigues-overpower-england-in-first-t20-international","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/28\/yastika-bhatia-and-jemimah-rodrigues-overpower-england-in-first-t20-international\/","title":{"rendered":"Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues overpower England in first T20 international"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Half-centuries from Yastika Bhatia and Jemima Rodrigues helped India post 188 for seven and overcome England by 38 runs in the first T20 international.<\/p>\n
The seamer Nandani Sharma, who took a hat-trick in \u00adJanuary\u2019s WPL, could not quite repeat that feat here, but three wickets in the space of five balls was nevertheless an \u00adimpressive\u00a0outing for the 24-year-old. \u201cWe all felt emotional seeing her debut,\u201d Bhatia said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting times for Indian cricket that whoever is coming into the XI is making a contribution.\u201d<\/p>\n
England were trounced by India last summer, so this series promises to be a good test of their progress over the past 12 months. But despite handing a T20I debut to the 18-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman, effectively giving them an extra spin option, somehow they still seemed to lack bowling depth.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
Lauren Bell was as reliable as ever, taking two wickets in her first over en route to figures of three for 34. But one over in the powerplay from Issy Wong cost 27 runs and another from Dani Gibson at the death went for 17.<\/p>\n
Bhatia, playing her first T20I for more than two years after anterior cruciate ligament surgery, took full advantage. \u201cIt was tough to go through rehab,\u201d she said. \u201cThere were days when nothing was happening, no progress was physically seen. But I just kept on going, kept showing up.\u201d<\/p>\n
In reply, Amy Jones struck 67 off 48 balls from the unfamiliar No 3 position \u2013 her first T20I half-century in almost six years. England\u2019s keeper has been under scrutiny after a \u00adcouple of under-par performances with the gloves, including \u00adconceding 14 byes against New Zealand on \u00adSaturday. This innings will take off some of that heat.<\/p>\n
The lack of support for Jones told. Sophia Dunkley smashed a huge six down the ground, but she was caught at mid-off swiping across the line. This was Heather Knight\u2019s 310th international game, making her England\u2019s most-capped player. But T20 cricket moves quickly and Knight\u2019s 21 from 24 balls made the task harder as the run rate slowly climbed out of reach.<\/p>\n
Both regular captains were absent: Harmanpreet Kaur was rested while Nat Sciver-Brunt is still making her way back from a calf injury. Sciver-Brunt told the BBC on Thursday that recovery was \u201cgoing to plan\u201d, but she may still be unable to bowl by the time England\u2019s World Cup campaign begins on 12 June, which may further limit their options with the ball.<\/p>\n