After three successive losses to South Africa, Australia and England, India head into the business end of the league phase of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 with semi-final qualification chances still in their hands. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side showed promise in all three matches but faltered under pressure during crucial moments.
A win over New Zealand in their penultimate match will seal their final-four berth. It would take India to six points on the table, and even if the White Ferns beat England on Sunday and get to the same number of points, the hosts will progress on account of having won more matches in the league phase.
Here’s a look at India’s key challenges in their remaining matches and the players who could make the difference:
New Zealand
India’s first challenge will be to overcome New Zealand on Thursday. The Sophie Devine-led side has a 34-22 head-to-head record in ODIs against the hosts and need a win to keep their qualification chances in their own hands. This will be the first match for them in India since October 10, when they beat Bangladesh by 100 runs at Guwahati.
The key threat: The batter India have to be most wary of on Thursday will be Amelia Kerr. The right-hander has made 428 runs in seven innings against India since 2022 at an average of 107. It includes four fifties and one century, and India will need to remove her early to ensure they prevent one of New Zealand’s best players of spin from making a defining contribution.
Kerr is also due for a big score in the tournament, having scored only 57 runs in three completed matches.
Who holds the key for India: To tackle the Amelia Kerr threat on Thursday, India will need Deepti Sharma to be at her best. The off-spinning all-rounder is the leading wicket-taker of the World Cup so far, with 13 scalps in five matches. She is different from the other off-spinner in the team – Sneh Rana – and bowls a flatter trajectory, gets the ball to straighten after pitching or hold its line, and varies her pace to try and deceive the batter.
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QUALIFICATION TARGET
6 POINTS
One win guarantees semi-final berth regardless of other results
THURSDAY
India vs New Zealand
The decider – Win here and qualification is sealed
MUST WIN
SUNDAY
India vs Bangladesh
Becomes less critical if NZ match is won
BACKUP OPTION
Simple Mathematics
1 WIN = SEMI-FINAL
A victory over New Zealand takes India to 6 points. Even if the White Ferns beat England and also reach 6 points, India progresses on more wins in the league phase.
Indian Express InfoGenIE
That could bring two modes of dismissal – leg before wicket and caught and bowled – into play, which could force Kerr to go against the spin on the off side or use a dead bat to play out her overs. Deepti has also taken the most wickets in India vs New Zealand ODIs matches among active players, with 26 scalps in 16 matches.
Bangladesh
The second challenge and the final one of the league phase for India will be Bangladesh on Sunday. The Nigar Sultana Joty-led side is out of the semi-final race, but their place on the points table (7th after six matches played) should not be misinterpreted as their actual exploits on the field.
The key threats: Bangladesh will pose a threat with both pace and spin on Sunday. When fit and playing, Marufa Akter has emerged as one of the best fast bowlers in this World Cup, with her booming inswingers with the new ball accounting for some of the best top-order batters, including the likes of Tammy Beaumont and Sidra Amin. Akter also has a good record against India in her short career, having taken seven wickets in three matches.
But the dangers for India don’t end there. Once they negotiate Akter, they will be up against a varied spin attack. The ones India will need to be wary of are left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and leg-spinner Rabeya Khan.
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The former has taken six wickets in three matches against India since 2023 and has taken the same number of wickets in five matches in this tournament. The latter has taken five wickets against India and bowls with a lower arm, with her leg-break accounting for even the likes of Chamari Athapaththu at the top of the order.
Who holds the key for India: Against both the pace of Marufa and the spin of Akter and Rabeya, Smriti Mandhana will be the key batter. Marufa’s stock ball might work to Mandhana’s strengths, as the ball going away from her could bring her off side game into play, thereby allowing her to play the cover drive. Against spin, Mandhana’s ability to play aerial shots can disrupt the bowlers’ rhythm and accelerate the scoring rate.
(With stats inputs from Lalith Kalidas)
