India will use their three-match T20I series against England as a final chance to settle on their best combinations ahead of the World Cup in the absence of injured allrounders Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam.
A back injury ruled batting allrounder Amanjot out of India's T20I series in South Africa last month, won by the hosts 4-1 and where seam-bowling allrounder Kashvee made her T20I debut before suffering a knee injury requiring surgery.
With India's biggest-name current players making up their top six, Bharti Fulmali could come into the lower middle order having played just five T20Is since making her debut against England in Guwahati in 2019. Shreyanka Patil, an offspinning allrounder, provides another option there ahead of Thursday's opening match of the series at Chelmsford while Radha Yadav and Yastika Bhatia are also back in the squad
Speaking on the eve of the first of three fixtures against England, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said her side would seek to strike a balance between a confidence-boosting victory and settling on her best XI.
"We have both things in our mind, at the same time we are looking for the combination and at the same time we are looking to win also because if you win before the World Cup that always give you a lot of confidence," Harmanpreet told reporters. "Now it's only about creating a good atmosphere and giving them a lot of confidence so that they should feel ready for any situation.
"Amanjot and Kashvee have been very impressive talent for us, but unfortunately as they're not available, we do have a lot of combinations in our mind and let's see what is working for us.
"These three matches will give us more clarity going ahead to the T20 World Cup because earlier - as Amanjot was there, Kashvee was there - we knew how things are going to be but now, new players in the side and hopefully we'll try to give them as much opportunity so that they can be ready for the T20 World Cup."
Radha hasn't played a T20I since last year's tour of England but has been recalled in light of those injuries as a gun fielder offering left-arm spin and solid batting. She was player of the match in the fourth game of that series with 2 for 15 and an excellent display in the field at Old Trafford as India won by six wickets on the way to a 3-2 victory. She also scored a maiden fifty in the WPL this year batting at No. 5 for RCB.
Yastika has spent even longer on the outer. Her last appearance for her country was in 2024 and she underwent knee surgery last year before returning as back-up wicketkeeper to Richa Ghosh and cover for the top order.
"They've been very good for us, Amanjot and Kashvee, but unfortunately they are not here, they're not fit to play the next six, seven months," Harmanpreet said. "But apart from them we have Radha back in the side - she did really well in the WPL, she contributed with both bat and ball - and Bharti Fulmali is also there. And now Yastika is also back in the side.
"So I think we have got decent balance in the side and it's only about giving opportunity to them and take the best out from them. This series will give us a lot of clarity before the World Cup and I think these three matches are very important and we'll try to get the best out of the series."
If she allowed herself to think beyond the England series to the T20 World Cup and what it would mean for the 50-over world champions to lift the trophy in the same country that she made her T20I debut, at the 2009 T20 World Cup, Harmanpreet could appreciate the prospect of a full circle moment.
"It will be a dream come true for any cricketer who got their debut in England and then winning the World Cup in England," she said. "Now it's only about keeping ourselves in the positive frame and just keep doing the right things again and again because consistency is something which always gives you results."
England will also be looking for consistency from a depleted batting line-up which will regain Danni-Wyatt Hodge from the second match onwards after her maternity leave but is still missing injured captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is in a race to be fit for the World Cup starting on July 12.
Alice Capsey took on the role of replacement opener to great effect in the first of two comprehensive victories over defending T20 world champions New Zealand either side of a 14-run defeat, which came after England had the White Ferns on the ropes at 11 for 4. Half-centuries from Sophie Devine and Maddy Green saved New Zealand's blushes on that occasion then none of England's batters truly got going chasing a target of 171.
Amy Jones, England's wicketkeeper-batter was only needed to bat once during the T20Is and was unbeaten on 1 when the White Ferns wrapped up victory at Canterbury.
"Losing that game does give a lot of learnings individually and as a team," Jones said on Wednesday. "A game like that is quite tricky because we were on top and then sort of slipped away but in general we've done a lot of work as a batting unit, of chasing down bigger totals.
"A hard-fought series with New Zealand and then hopefully another good battle with India I think is excellent preparation so hopefully we can come out on top but also take a lot of learnings leading into the World Cup. Having played in some high-pressure games prior will stand us in good stead."