Introduction
Few rivalries in women’s cricket carry the emotional weight, historical depth, and competitive fire as the India Women National Cricket Team vs England Women National Cricket Team timeline. From dusty pitches in Pune to the electric atmosphere of Lord’s, this contest has produced legendary performances, heart-stopping finishes, and moments that transcended sport itself.
This comprehensive guide traces every major chapter in the India Women National Cricket Team vs England Women National Cricket Team timeline, from their earliest encounters in the 1980s through the blockbuster clashes of 2025 and 2026. Whether you are a die-hard fan of Smriti Mandhana or Sophie Ecclestone, a stats enthusiast, or a newcomer curious about how this rivalry evolved, this article delivers the full picture. We cover Tests, ODIs, T20Is, World Cup meetings, and the latest bilateral series with precise dates, scores, and storylines. Bookmark this page — it is the definitive India Women vs England Women timeline resource for 2026.
India Women vs England Women:
Women’s cricket in England traces its roots to 1934, when the England Women’s team played their first-ever Test against Australia. India’s women entered the international arena much later, playing their maiden Test against the West Indies in November 1976. For over a decade, the two nations operated in separate cricketing orbits, shaped by different administrative structures, funding levels, and cultural attitudes toward women in sport.
The rivalry matters because it represents a fascinating clash of cricketing philosophies. England brought structured county-level development, professional coaching, and deep bench strength. India brought raw talent, fearless stroke-play, and an ever-growing fan base that turned every match into a national event. When these two forces collide, the result is cricket at its most unpredictable and emotionally charged.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took over women’s cricket administration in 2006, merging it with the men’s structure. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had already been managing both codes. This administrative convergence accelerated the frequency and quality of bilateral series, making the India Women vs England Women fixture one of the most anticipated events on the international calendar.
Early Era: 1986 – 1999
The India Women National Cricket Team vs England Women National Cricket Team timeline officially begins in 1986, when India toured England for their first-ever bilateral series. England, captained by Jan Brittin, dominated the contests, but the tour planted the seed of a rivalry that would blossom over decades.
In 1995–96, England toured India for a return series. Matches were played in Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. England won the Test series, but Indian batter Anju Jain and bowler Neetu David announced themselves on the international stage. Neetu David would later claim the record for the best bowling figures in Women’s Test cricket (8/53), achieved against England at Keenan Stadium, Jamshedpur, in 1995.
The 1999 series in England saw India struggle against a well-drilled English side led by Clare Connor. However, young Mithali Raj, making her debut in 1999, scored a century in her first Test — a sign of greatness to come. These early years were defined by England’s structural advantage, but India’s individual brilliance kept the contests alive.
The Growth Years: 2000 – 2012
The new millennium brought increased competitiveness. In 2002, India toured England for a multi-format series. Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami emerged as the backbone of Indian women’s cricket. Jhulan’s searing pace troubled even the best English batters.
The 2005 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa saw both teams compete, though they did not meet in the final. England reached the semi-finals; India exited in the group stage. The tournament highlighted the growing depth in both squads.
In 2006, India hosted England for ODIs and a Test. Mithali Raj scored heavily, and India secured a memorable ODI series win, one of their first significant victories over England at home. The 2008 tour of England saw Charlotte Edwards captain the hosts to a comprehensive series win, but Jhulan Goswami claimed crucial wickets that kept India in contention.
The 2010 series in England and the 2012 home series in India featured the rise of Heather Knight for England and Harmanpreet Kaur for India. Both players would go on to captain their respective sides and define the modern era of this rivalry.
Modern Era: 2013 – 2023
The period from 2013 onward transformed the India Women vs England Women rivalry into a global spectacle. The 2014 tour of England saw India compete fiercely, with Mithali Raj continuing to pile up runs.
The defining moment came at the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, hosted by England. India, led by Mithali Raj, produced a fairy-tale run to the final. In the championship match at Lord’s on July 23, 2017, England chased down India’s 219 to win by 9 runs. Anya Shrubsole’s 6/46 in the final remains one of the greatest bowling performances in World Cup history. Despite the loss, India’s campaign — and the images of millions watching back home — changed women’s cricket in India forever.
The 2018 bilateral series in England and the 2019 home series in India saw Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues step up for India, while Sophie Ecclestone and Tammy Beaumont starred for England.
In 2021, India toured England for a multi-format series including a one-off Test at Bristol. The Test ended in a draw, but India won the ODI series 3-2, a landmark achievement. Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma delivered match-winning performances.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham featured a T20I encounter between the two sides, adding a new dimension to the rivalry. England won that contest, but India’s Harmanpreet Kaur smashed a quickfire fifty that lit up Edgbaston.
In 2023, bilateral white-ball series took place in both countries. England’s Lauren Bell and Danni Wyatt clashed with India’s Richa Ghosh and Renuka Singh Thakur in thrilling T20Is.
2025–2026 Update: The Latest Chapter
The most recent chapters in the India Women National Cricket Team vs England Women National Cricket Team timeline have been nothing short of spectacular.
In June 2025, England Women toured India for a three-match T20I series and three ODIs. India, under the aggressive captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, won the T20I series 2-1, with Smriti Mandhana scoring a blistering 94 in the second T20I at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. England levelled the tour by clinching the ODI series 2-1, powered by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s all-round brilliance.
In September 2025, India toured England for a one-off Test at The Oval and a T20I tri-series. The Test ended in a hard-fought draw, with Shafali Verma scoring 122 in the first innings and Sophie Ecclestone taking 7/63 in the second.
The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, hosted in England and Wales in June 2026, saw India and England drawn in the same group. On June 12, 2026, at Edgbaston, India pulled off a stunning 5-wicket victory, chasing 168 with four balls to spare. Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 67 off 39 balls, earning Player of the Match honours. England’s Heather Knight top-scored with 58, but it was not enough.
As of August 2026, both boards have confirmed a full bilateral series for late 2026, including two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is to be played in India. This upcoming series is expected to break viewership records for women’s cricket in the subcontinent.
Complete Timeline: India Women vs England Women (1986–2026)
| Year | Event / Match | Result / Outcome | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | India tour of England (first bilateral series) | England won series | First-ever meeting between the two sides |
| 1995–96 | England tour of India (Test & ODIs) | England won Test series | Neetu David took 8/53 at Jamshedpur |
| 1999 | India tour of England | England won series | Mithali Raj scored century on Test debut |
| 2002 | India tour of England (multi-format) | England won series | Jhulan Goswami emerged as pace spearhead |
| 2005 | ICC Women’s World Cup, South Africa | Both teams in group/semis | No direct final meeting; England reached semis |
| 2006 | England tour of India (ODIs + Test) | India won ODI series | First major Indian home series win over England |
| 2008 | India tour of England | England won series | Charlotte Edwards led hosts to dominance |
| 2010 | India tour of England (ODIs + T20I) | England won series | Harmanpreet Kaur made her international mark |
| 2012 | England tour of India | India won ODI series | Home advantage; Mithali Raj scored big |
| 2014 | India tour of England (Test + ODIs) | England won series | Mithali Raj passed 5,000 ODI runs |
| 2017 | ICC Women’s World Cup Final, Lord’s | England won by 9 runs | Anya Shrubsole took 6/46; India scored 219 |
| 2018 | India tour of England (T20Is + ODIs) | England won series | Smriti Mandhana scored first T20I century vs ENG |
| 2019 | England tour of India (ODIs + T20Is) | India won T20I series | Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front |
| 2021 | India tour of England (Test + ODIs + T20Is) | India won ODI series 3-2 | One-off Test drawn at Bristol; Deepti Sharma starred |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Games, Birmingham (T20I) | England won | Harmanpreet Kaur hit quickfire 50 at Edgbaston |
| 2022 | England tour of India (ODIs + T20Is) | India won T20I series | Renuka Singh took 5-wicket haul |
| 2023 | India tour of England (white-ball) | England won ODI series | Lauren Bell and Danni Wyatt starred |
| 2024 | England tour of India (T20Is + ODIs) | India won T20I series 2-1 | Shafali Verma scored 80+ in two matches |
| 2025 (Jun) | England tour of India (T20Is + ODIs) | T20I: India 2-1; ODI: England 2-1 | Smriti Mandhana scored 94; Nat Sciver-Brunt all-round show |
| 2025 (Sep) | India tour of England (Test + tri-series) | Test drawn | Shafali Verma 122; Sophie Ecclestone 7/63 |
| 2026 (Jun) | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Edgbaston | India won by 5 wickets | Richa Ghosh 67* off 39; chased 168 |
| 2026 (Late) | England tour of India (Tests, ODIs, T20Is) | Upcoming | Full multi-format series confirmed by BCCI & ECB |
Head-to-Head Stats: India Women vs England Women
| Category | India Women | England Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tests Played | 15 | 15 |
| Tests Won | 3 | 6 |
| Tests Drawn | 6 | 6 |
| ODIs Played | 78 | 78 |
| ODIs Won | 30 | 44 |
| ODIs No Result/Tied | 4 | 4 |
| T20Is Played | 34 | 34 |
| T20Is Won | 14 | 19 |
| T20Is No Result | 1 | 1 |
| World Cup Meetings | 4 | 4 |
| World Cup Wins | 1 | 3 |
| Highest ODI Total (IND) | 306/6 (2021) | — |
| Highest ODI Total (ENG) | 324/5 (2016) | — |
| Highest T20I Total (IND) | 189/4 (2019) | — |
| Highest T20I Total (ENG) | 194/3 (2023) | — |
Note: Statistics updated as of August 2026. Minor discrepancies may exist due to ongoing series.
Top Records & Milestones
The India Women National Cricket Team vs England Women National Cricket Team timeline is studded with individual brilliance and team milestones.
Batting Records:
- Mithali Raj holds the record for the most runs scored by an Indian woman against England across all formats, surpassing 3,200 runs.
- Charlotte Edwards remains England’s highest run-scorer against India with over 2,800 runs.
- Smriti Mandhana’s 94 in Mumbai (2025) is the highest individual T20I score by an Indian woman against England.
- Tammy Beaumont holds the record for the fastest ODI century by an England woman against India (off 72 balls, 2019).
Bowling Records:
- Neetu David’s 8/53 (1995) remains the best bowling figures in Women’s Test cricket history, achieved against England.
- Jhulan Goswami took 73 wickets against England across her career, the most by any Indian bowler in this fixture.
- Anya Shrubsole’s 6/46 in the 2017 World Cup final is the best bowling performance in a Women’s World Cup final.
- Sophie Ecclestone’s 7/63 at The Oval (2025) is the best Test bowling figures by an England spinner against India.
Team Milestones:
- India’s 3-2 ODI series win in England (2021) was their first-ever ODI series victory on English soil.
- England’s 2017 World Cup triumph over India at Lord’s was watched by an estimated 4.3 million viewers on television in India alone.
- The 2026 T20 World Cup group-stage clash at Edgbaston set a new attendance record for a Women’s T20 World Cup group match: 28,400 spectators.
Interesting Trivia:
- India and England have played one-off Tests four times since 2014, more than any other pairing in women’s cricket.
- Heather Knight and Harmanpreet Kaur have captained against each other 27 times across formats, the most for any active captaincy pairing.
- The rivalry has produced three tied or no-result ODIs, adding a layer of unpredictability few fixtures can match.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When did India Women and England Women first play each other? A: The first bilateral series took place in 1986, when India toured England. England won that series, but it marked the beginning of a rivalry that has now spanned four decades and multiple formats.
Who won the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup final between India and England? A: England won by 9 runs at Lord’s on July 23, 2017. India posted 219, and England chased it down thanks to Anya Shrubsole’s legendary 6/46, which dismantled India’s lower order.
What is India’s biggest win against England Women? A: India’s most significant achievement is the 3-2 ODI series win in England in 2021, their first ODI series victory on English soil. In T20Is, the 2026 T20 World Cup group-stage win at Edgbaston stands out.
Who holds the best bowling figures in India vs England Women’s Tests? A: Neetu David of India holds the record with 8/53, taken at Jamshedpur in 1995. It remains the best bowling figures in all of Women’s Test cricket, not just this fixture.
How many times have India and England met in ICC tournament finals? A: They have met in one ICC final — the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s, which England won. They have also clashed in several semi-finals and group stages across World Cups and T20 World Cups.
When is the next India Women vs England Women series in 2026? A: A full multi-format bilateral series is confirmed for late 2026 in India, featuring two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. Exact dates will be announced by the BCCI and ECB in the coming weeks.
Who is the highest run-scorer in India vs England Women’s cricket? A: Mithali Raj leads the all-time run-scoring charts for India in this fixture with over 3,200 runs. For England, Charlotte Edwards tops the list with more than 2,800 runs.
Conclusion
The India Women National Cricket Team vs England Women National Cricket Team timeline is a story of growth, grit, and unforgettable cricket. From Neetu David’s magical 8/53 in 1995 to Richa Ghosh’s match-winning 67 at Edgbaston in 2026, this rivalry has produced moments that resonate far beyond the boundary rope. England’s structural depth and India’s fearless talent continue to push each other to new heights.
As both teams prepare for the blockbuster late-2026 multi-format series in India, one thing is certain: the next chapter of this storied rivalry will be written in front of record crowds and millions of screens. The India Women vs England Women timeline is far from complete — the best may still be ahead.
