International Cricket

IND-W vs ENG-W 2nd ODI Chennai — Deepti Sharma's 6/41 Spell Decoded

Priya Iyer 15 May 2026 Updated 15 May 2026 ~6 min read ~1,128 words

Deepti Sharma bowling off-spin at Chepauk

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Deepti Sharma has been the spine of India Women's spin attack for seven years. The 28-year-old off-spinner-allrounder bowls 10 overs in every ODI, scores runs in the lower middle order, and has the world's most consistent dot-ball rate among women's ODI bowlers. The 2nd ODI against England at Chepauk on May 17 was the kind of spell that defines her career — 6 for 41 in 10 overs, including the wicket of Heather Knight who had been playing the anchor knock to save the chase. India Women won by 89 runs and sealed the three-match ODI series 2-0 with one to play.

Phase one: the Chepauk surface

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in May is one of the most spin-friendly surfaces in the world. The first-innings average for ODIs at the venue over the last five years is 232 and the second-innings chase rate is 88 percent. Spinners have taken 71 percent of the wickets. India Women had planned for this — the home team brief from coach Amol Muzumdar was to attack with the front-foot spin pair of Deepti and Radha Yadav from the start.

India Women batted first and posted 247 for 5 in 50 overs. Smriti Mandhana made 41 off 56, Harmanpreet Kaur 67 off 78, and Jemimah Rodrigues 49 off 41. The total was 25 above par for the venue.

What the numbers say

Deepti's 6 for 41 broke into a clear pattern. Overs 1-3 in the powerplay: 12 runs, no wickets. Overs 4-6 in the middle: 8 runs, two wickets. Overs 7-9: 15 runs, three wickets. Over 10 at the death: 6 runs, one wicket.

The economy of 4.1 was the lowest by any Indian bowler in the match. The strike rate of one wicket every 10 balls was the highest of her ODI career. The dot-ball percentage was 56 and the variation percentage was 18.

The off-spin lines

Deepti's six wickets came from six different deliveries — proof that she varies her release more than most off-spinners. Wicket one was Tammy Beaumont, lbw in the 9th over to an arm-ball that pitched on middle and hit off. Wicket two was Maia Bouchier, caught at slip in the 11th over off a stock off-spinner that turned away.

Wicket three was Sophie Dunkley in the 18th over — a top-spinner that bounced more than expected and took the inside edge. Wicket four was Heather Knight in the 24th over — the doosra (Deepti's new variation) that drifted away from the right-hander and bowled her through the gate. Wicket five was Alice Capsey in the 28th — a stock off-spinner that took the edge to slip. Wicket six was Sophie Ecclestone in the 36th over — the carrom ball that pitched on off and turned in to hit middle-stump.

The Heather Knight dismissal

Heather Knight had been playing the anchor knock. She was 38 not out off 49 when Deepti came on for her second spell in the 23rd over. England were 91 for 3 in the 24th over with the asking rate at six. Knight was the chase.

Deepti's plan was to bowl wide of off-stump and force Knight to manufacture rather than rotate. Knight had been pushing the ball through cover for ones and twos. Deepti's first ball was the stock off-spinner outside off — Knight left it. The second was the same — Knight defended. The third was the doosra — Knight played for the off-spin, the ball drifted away and turned slightly, and her bat played around the gate. The stumps came back broken.

The dismissal ended the chase. Knight had been the player most likely to hold the chase together. With her gone in the 24th over, the middle order had no anchor.

The England chase falling apart

England were 91 for 4 in the 24th over after Knight's dismissal. The middle order — Capsey 8, Ecclestone 4 — fell to Deepti in the next 12 overs. The lower order around Lauren Filer (28 off 26) and Charlie Dean (18 off 24) extended the innings but couldn't generate the rate.

England were bowled out for 158 in the 41st over. The 89-run loss is the biggest ODI defeat for England Women in India since 2019.

What it means for the series

India Women win the series 2-0 with one ODI to play. The 3rd ODI is at Wankhede on May 20. The home advantage in the spin-friendly venues has been the consistent theme. Deepti Sharma's 6 for 41 is the best ODI spell by an India Women off-spinner since 2018.

For England the read is that the spin-attack plan didn't work. Sophie Ecclestone went for 56 off 10 in the 1st ODI and 38 off 7 here. Charlie Dean has been the more consistent of the two but the wickets haven't come. The middle order beyond Heather Knight needs to find a way past the home spinners.

The forward view

The 3rd ODI at Wankhede on May 20 will see India Women look to seal a 3-0 sweep. The Wankhede surface tends to favour pace more than the previous two venues, which may give Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer a chance to make inroads early.

Deepti Sharma's ODI rankings will lift after this spell. She was at world No. 5 in ODI bowlers before Chennai. The six-for moves her into the top three. The wider 2027 ODI World Cup picture has India Women as one of the four favourites alongside Australia, England, and South Africa.

What to watch next: the 3rd ODI at Wankhede on May 20 — India Women's chance to seal a 3-0 sweep.