Kira Chathli will lead the England A women’s team on their upcoming tour of India. The 27-year-old Surrey wicketkeeper-batter has strong Indian roots and a connection to the Mumbai Indians franchise. She said, "To make that translate here through Indian investment is a really cool thing" about the sport's growth.
Kira Chathli is set to return to India as England A captain, leading the visiting women's team on a tour that promises to be a special occasion for the Surrey wicketkeeper-batter. With Indian roots and a growing reputation in English domestic cricket, Chathli will be returning to a country that holds personal significance for her, making the assignment more than just another cricketing opportunity.
The 27-year-old has steadily established herself in England's domestic cricket circuit through her performances for Surrey and various franchises in The Hundred. Known for her wicketkeeping skills and contributions with the bat, she has gained valuable experience across formats while developing her leadership credentials.
Chathli will lead England A Women against India A Women in a series featuring three T20 matches, three 50-over games and a four-day match. The tour offers her an opportunity to test her leadership skills against familiar opposition while continuing to make a case for greater recognition in English cricket.
KIRA CHATHLI'S INDIAN CONNECTION
Chathli grew up in a multicultural environment in Southwark, London, and was introduced to cricket largely through her father, Harry, who played club cricket as an all-rounder and wicketkeeper. Some of her earliest memories of the sport came during family trips to India, where she watched her father play and developed a lasting love for the game.
Her Indian connection became even more special when she signed for MI London in The Hundred. Her father, who grew up in the suburbs of Mumbai and briefly served as Yorkshire's chair in 2023-24, is a lifelong Mumbai Indians supporter. Chathli spoke about how excited he was to see her join a franchise connected to his favourite team, creating a full-circle moment for the family.
She has also expressed pride in seeing Indian investment contribute to the growth of women's domestic cricket in England.
"Obviously cricket is massive in India, and to make that translate here through Indian investment is a really cool thing," Chathli told Cricinfo last year.
MI LONDON AND SURREY: HOW CHATHLI HAS PERFORMED
Chathli's career has developed through consistent involvement in England's domestic cricket structure. She made her county debut for Surrey against Essex in 2013, aged just 14, and has since gained experience with teams including South East Stars, Trent Rockets, London Spirit and Oval Invincibles. She was part of the Oval Invincibles side that won The Hundred in 2022 and also helped South East Stars lift the Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2021.
Her performances in The Hundred have demonstrated her ability to contribute in the fast-paced format. Across 27 matches, Chathli has scored 289 runs at an average of 16.05 and a strike rate of 125.10, with two half-centuries to her name.
MI London's faith in her abilities was evident at the 2026 Hundred auction, where she attracted a three-way bidding war before being signed for £80,000. The fee made her the most expensive English wicketkeeper at the auction, underlining her value to the franchise.
Chathli has also produced impressive performances in domestic 50-over cricket. During the 2024 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, she scored 251 runs at an average of 50.20, including three half-centuries, highlighting her ability to deliver consistently in the longer format.
As she prepares to captain England A in India, Chathli brings domestic experience, wicketkeeping skills and growing leadership credentials to the role. Her return to a country with which she shares a personal connection adds another dimension to an important chapter in her cricketing journey.