The Netherlands won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in their Women's T20 World Cup clash at Headingley on Wednesday. The Dutch captain Babette de Leede opted to chase, hoping to exploit early conditions under overcast skies.

India made two changes to their playing eleven. Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia returned to the side, while young pacer Nandini Sharma was handed her maiden appearance in the tournament. They replaced Bharti Fulmali and Arundhati Reddy.

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said she was happy to bat first anyway. "Great opportunity to challenge ourselves. The powerplay with bat and ball is key. We need to stick to our plans and bat as deep as possible on this wicket," she remarked.

Her team comes into this game high on confidence after a convincing 64-run win over Pakistan in their opener. The Netherlands, on the other hand, is still searching for its first points after a six-wicket loss to Bangladesh.

De Leede, leading her side for the first time in a World Cup, admitted to nerves but also excitement. "Playing against India is a dream come true—a little nervous, but super excited," she said. Her team made one change, bringing in seamer Myrthe van den Raad for batter Sanya Khurana.

The pitch at Headingley is the same one used for Australia's dominant nine-wicket win over Bangladesh. Pitch experts Ian Bishop and Charles Dagnall predicted early movement, with a strong south-westerly breeze and overcast conditions likely to assist seamers, especially since 30 overs have already been bowled on this surface.

It promises to be a test of adaptability for both sides. India will look to build on their winning momentum, while the Dutch hope to spring a surprise and keep their tournament hopes alive.