Blockbuster Summer
Forget the polite applause and cucumber sandwiches. Gurinder Chadha has turned this summer’s England vs India women’s cricket series into a full-blown cinematic showdown.
One director.
One trailer.
One very big story.
By Glorious
There’s something stirring in English cricket this summer. Bigger than a single fixture, bigger than a single squad. For the first time in history, England Women, England Men and the England Men’s Mixed Disability teams are joining forces under one banner, facing the same formidable opponent across the same season. Their opponent? India. This isn’t just a cricket series. It’s a celebration of rivalry, heritage and cultural pride, spanning eight cities and three formats. To help mark the occasion, the England and Wales Cricket Board (click for further information on this project and tickets!) brought in Gurinder Chadha, one of the country’s most iconic filmmakers.
It’s been more than 20 years since Gurinder Chadha released Bend It Like Beckham, a film that smashed box office records and broke through cultural barriers. Released in 2002, it tells the story of Jesminder ‘Jess’ Kaur Bhamra, an 18-year-old Punjabi Sikh who dreams of playing football like her idol, David Beckham, despite her family’s wishes. The film became a global hit and inspired a generation of girls to see themselves differently. Joyful and funny, the film was never intended as a political statement, but its impact was profound. As Chadha has pointed out, the fact that a South Asian girl could be the hero of a sports story was quietly radical. For many viewers, it was the first time they saw their lives, families and ambitions reflected on screen through sport. More than two decades later, people still stop Chadha in the street to talk about it. It’s more than a film. It’s a landmark.
Being a British filmmaker of Indian heritage, the England–India rivalry holds deep personal meaning. “Whenever India and England are playing, it’s a big deal far beyond cricket,” she says. “It’s a social and cultural event. Loads of my friends go to the matches, and I’ve been too. It’s always a great atmosphere, no matter who wins.” She grew up in a cricket-loving household. Her father, a devoted fan, would watch matches religiously, and she absorbed that energy from a young age. “His love of the game makes me feel very warm and fuzzy about it. And I live near Lord’s, so I witness it all first-hand.”
When she stepped onto set, she brought her original Bend It Like Beckham clapperboard with her, along with a cricket cap that had belonged to her father. It wasn’t just a nostalgic gesture. It was a reminder of where this story began, with family, identity and the love of sport. “That’s what cricket meant to me growing up,” she says. “It was a way to feel close to my dad. He wasn’t a man who said much, but he always made time for the game. So for me, cricket is love. It’s connection.”
You do not expect to see Dhol drummers, samosas, flying bails and a full Hollywood-style voiceover in a short cricket film. But you also do not expect Gurinder Chadha to return to sport after more than twenty years and keep it low-key. The ECB gave her the licence to go big, and she did just that. The result is a short cinematic burst that sets the tone for a sporting showdown like no other. The fans are loud. The players are louder. And the film? It is a bold, high-energy mash-up of cricketing intensity and visual flair, with Chadha pulling every lever to let people know this is not just another entry in the fixture list. It is an invitation.
She approached it as she would any large-scale project, compressing the tension, spectacle and emotional build-up of a feature film into a short, striking sequence. Every frame, from clattering wickets to roaring crowds, builds momentum. “It had to be punchy,” she says. “We only had a couple of days to shoot, and I wanted it to feel like a blockbuster with heart.”
“We didn’t have the luxury of a long prep period,” she says. “Everything had to be decided fast. Set-ups, lighting, even choreography. But sometimes that kind of pressure brings out the best in people. We had to be creative on our feet.”
Chadha also layered in subtle references to cricket culture. There are tea breaks with full spreads (samosas included!), Dholi drummers setting the pace, and celebratory touches that feel unmistakably British Asian. Some of the scenes were filmed at Lord’s, bringing all that colour and energy right into the home of English cricket. “I wanted the trailer to show that cricket is more than a game. It’s the food, the music, the feeling of belonging. And it’s funny too. We don’t talk enough about how funny cricket is!”
cinematic
She cast the players to be themselves. “These are top athletes, but they’re also personalities,” she says. “And I didn’t want them to just look like they were playing well. I wanted them to look iconic. I wanted people to look at these women and go: she looks amazing. Not just strong or fast, but heroic.”
That included the decision to make the women’s team central, not as a tokenistic gesture but as a creative necessity. “The men always get the spotlight by default,” she says. “But this is a new generation. So I wanted to reflect that shift, not with a feminist lecture, just with the frame.”
And that distinction matters. Chadha wanted empowerment to be felt, not spoken. “When you show images of women playing sport, it inspires people. That’s always been true,” she says. “It’s about seeing yourself differently. The moment you see someone who looks like you doing something brilliant, it unlocks possibility. You don’t need to hear a slogan or a message. You just need the image.”
Asked if any player stood out during the shoot, she smiles. “They were all brilliant in different ways. Some were naturals in front of the camera, some surprised themselves. But there was a moment with Lauren Filer! The way she held herself, the poise – it was film star stuff! Totally unforced.”
That fun is front and centre. Hollywood-style name cards, slow-mo walking, screaming fans, flying balls, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge scoffing samosas… There are cameos from plenty of other famous faces too, including Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophia Dunkley. One of England’s most experienced players, Heather Knight, also makes an appearance. Her highlight? “The samosas!” she laughs. “Danni Wyatt-Hodge having to eat a lot of samosas! She couldn’t get that scene quite right so we had to keep doing it again and again. I think she quite liked it!”
Even players who weren’t there felt the impact. Tammy Beaumont, who has played over 100 matches for England, said the trailer could inspire a new generation. “I watched Bend It Like Beckham so many times my DVD stopped working!” she laughs. “It was such an important film. It told girls like me that sport could belong to us too. This trailer, I think, could do that for cricket.”
Chadha laughs when asked if this was her spiritual sequel. “I’m not the woman who only does sport films!” she says. “But there’s something so joyful about these projects. I do them when it feels right. And this felt right. I didn’t want to repeat Bend It Like Beckham. I wanted to evolve it.” She’s clear that representation isn’t the only goal. It’s about perspective. “I want girls to feel like the story is already theirs,” she says. “Not something they have to fight for. It’s not about putting them in the background. It’s about making them the moment.” “If someone comes to this trailer because they liked my films, and they leave wanting to watch the series, that’s the win,” she says. “The message is: women’s cricket is big, it’s brilliant, and it’s for you.”
The women’s team enters the summer with serious momentum. Under new head coach Charlotte Edwards, England are pushing forward with fresh intent. Nat Sciver-Brunt has stepped up as captain, bringing calm confidence and clarity. “She’ll do it differently to how I did it. That’s important. You’ve got to be authentic,” said Knight when asked about her new captain. “She’s got her own way and it suits her.”
With the World Cup in India around the corner, this summer is more than a showcase, it’s a vital step. England’s squad has depth and edge. Tammy Beaumont is in form. Alice Capsey brings flair. Em Arlott hits hard at the death. And players like Charis Pavely are breaking through with all-round promise.
joyful!
India, meanwhile, arrive with a squad shaped by the Women’s Premier League. Smriti Mandhana is elegance personified. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur bring form and firepower. And England know the spin trio of Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad could turn a match in minutes.
“It’s going to be a brilliant challenge,” said Knight. “And the Oval, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge – they all bring something special. It’s not just about the cricket. It’s the spectacle, the sound, the feeling!”
Chadha’s trailer doesn’t pretend to carry the weight of that entire journey. But it knows what it’s part of. “It’s not about ticking a box,” she said. “It’s about saying look at this moment, and look who’s in it. We don’t have to explain why women belong here. We just show it.”
So what’s changed since she made Bend It Like Beckham? Chadha doesn’t miss a beat. “People used to laugh at the idea of a film about girls playing football. No one’s laughing now.”
And with a summer ahead full of packed stadiums, unlimited drama, fierce rivalries and women front and centre, no one will be laughing at women’s cricket either.
Be part of it! England Women are taking the centre stage this summer, bringing the heat, the energy, and the full matchday experience as they take on India in this historic series, alongside the England Men’s and the Men’s Mixed Disability Team. One opponent. Three squads. One England. A summer of unmissable cricket (with a bit of sun, if we’re lucky!). Whether it’s your first time at a match or you’ve followed every ball, this is the moment to get involved. With tickets starting from just £5 for under-16s and most adult tickets between £10 and £20, they’re going fast! So fire up the group chat, choose your city, and get in while you can. Be there for history. Be part of something bigger.
England vs India Women starts 28 June. Unlimited drama. All welcome.
England vs India starts 28 June. Unlimited drama. All welcome. Get your tickets and find out more by clicking here.
Share This Article
If you love this you’ll also love...
Summer of Sixes
Drama, rivalry and a whole lot of cricket. England Women are taking on India in a historic summer series with the men’s and disability teams in tow. From tactics to telly habits, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight let us in on life at the top of the game.
Shelly Rothwell Round
Three iconic challenges. One self-made round. A freezing lake, two wheels, 42 peaks, and barely any sleep. We meet Michelle Rothwell, a woman who turned a passing idea into a 57-hour test of endurance.
Shaping Strength
What drives a generation of young women to the all-consuming pursuit of perfection? We speak with photographer, Keerthana Kunnath, revealing how young Indian women are challenging traditional outlooks on the idea of beauty or femininity – even if it comes at a cost.
Add SPF
At home, I need a reason to work out. On holiday, I’ll hike in flip flops to see a goat, then pretend to speak Italian to rent a paddleboard. Why I only say yes to new sports when I’m sunburnt and off-grid.