India Begin Final World Cup Preparations in Cardiff as Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and Bowlers Impress in Intense Training Session

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Trisha Ghosal, Cardiff

India’s final stretch of preparation for the Women’s World Cup is officially underway.

Just two days after concluding the T20I series against England, the Indian squad returned to work in Cardiff on Thursday for what was their first full training session before the tournament starts. With practice scheduled over the next few days and warm-up matches to follow on 8 and 10 June, the team has entered the crucial final phase of its World Cup build-up.

The session was characterised by intensity and involvement across the entire squad. Every player spent time either batting, bowling or fielding as the coaching staff sought to maximise preparation before the team shifts base to Birmingham after the second warm-up fixture.

Among the notable performers was wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. While her recent returns in matches have raised questions, largely because of the limited number of deliveries she often faces lower down the order, the Bengal batter looked in good rhythm during an extended stint in the nets. The sound of the ball coming off her bat suggested confidence, and she was one of the players to spend considerable time honing her game.

Deepti Sharma also enjoyed an impressive session, batting with such authority that she ended up breaking her bat. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Sreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani and others all had their turns in the nets as India looked to fine-tune both batting and bowling combinations ahead of the tournament.

The bowlers, meanwhile, continued working long after the main session had concluded. Under the watchful eye of bowling coach Avishkar Salvi, Nandini Kashyap and Kranti Goud spent additional time perfecting their skills. Nandini focused on her variations while Kranti repeatedly worked on hitting consistent good-length areas.

Salvi’s involvement was impossible to miss. Throughout the session he was constantly engaged with the bowlers, offering advice and feedback. Fielding coach Munish Bali was equally active, overseeing catching drills and fielding exercises. While India’s fielding has often been scrutinised, there was little evidence of any lack of effort during Friday’s training.

One of the more encouraging sights came after the formal drills had ended. Richa, still wearing her pads, continued with fitness work and running drills. It reflected a broader emphasis within the squad on improving athleticism and running between the wickets, an area that vice-captain Smriti Mandhana recently acknowledged the team has been striving to improve.

The conditions in Cardiff offered another challenge. Temperatures remained low, accompanied by strong winds, giving players an opportunity to acclimatise to the conditions they are likely to encounter during the tournament.

With warm-up fixtures now around the corner, India are entering the stage where preparation gradually gives way to execution. However, these training sessions could prove invaluable. Similar periods of intensive practice at Indore helped the side find momentum in the 2025 WODI World Cup, and the coaching staff will hope the work being put in now pays dividends when the World Cup begins.

For now, though, the focus remains simple: train hard, sharpen skills and ensure every player is ready when India’s World Cup campaign gets underway.

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