India's journey in the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup is becoming increasingly fraught with challenges, defined by inconsistent team selections and a struggle to find the right balance. After a promising start with wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the team has suffered three consecutive defeats, leaving their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.
The most recent setback came against England on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, where India lost by a mere four runs. Chasing a target of 289, the Indian side finished on 284/6 in their 50 overs. Despite half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana (88), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (70), and Deepti Sharma (50), the team couldn't cross the finish line. Heather Knight's brilliant century (109 off 91 balls) powered England to 288/8, a total that ultimately proved just beyond India's reach.
India's chase began shakily, with Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol falling early. Mandhana and Kaur then stabilized the innings with a 125-run partnership. However, after Kaur's dismissal, the momentum shifted. Mandhana and Sharma added 67 runs, but Mandhana's dismissal in the 42nd over triggered a collapse. The lower order couldn't maintain the required run rate, and England's bowlers tightened the screws.
The defeat leaves India in a precarious position, sitting fourth in the standings with four points from five matches. England, along with Australia and South Africa, have already secured their places in the semi-finals. India now faces a must-win situation in their remaining matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh.
To qualify for the semi-finals, India needs to win both of their remaining games. If India loses to New Zealand, they would need New Zealand to lose their final match against England and then India would need to beat Bangladesh to advance. In another scenario, if India beats New Zealand but loses to Bangladesh, and New Zealand defeats England, the team with the better net run rate will progress.
Smriti Mandhana took responsibility for the defeat against England, admitting that her dismissal triggered the collapse. She acknowledged that the team's shot selection could have been better. Harmanpreet Kaur conceded that Smriti's wicket was the turning point, adding that she felt the team had sufficient batting to finish the game, but was unsure how things went wrong.
The upcoming match against New Zealand is crucial, with the winner taking a significant step towards semi-final qualification. India will need clinical batting, disciplined bowling, and tactical use of all-rounders to secure a victory. Key players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma will need to be at their best to navigate the high-pressure situation.
