India’s chances of making it to the semifinals of the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup is now on shaky ground as the co-hosts sank to a third consecutive defeat in the tournament. India lost to England by four runs in a thriller of a game in Indore in which Harmanpeet Kaur’s side unravelled towards the end of their chase.
With Smriti Mandhana going strong on 88 and India needing just 56 runs off 54 balls and seven wickets in hand, they appeared on course for victory. Harmanpreet said that Mandhana’s dismissal was the turning point for them. “It’s a bad feeling when you have put so much hard work in but the last 5-6 overs didn’t go according to the plan,” added Harmanpreet.
“We still had batters, but I don’t know how things went the other way. Credit to England. They didn’t lose hope, they kept bowling and getting wickets.”
Harmanpreet and Mandhana had put up a partnership of 125 runs for the third wicket off just 122 balls as India were chasing a target of 289. This was after Heather Knight’s 109 off 91 balls helped England put up a total of 288/8. While Mandhana fell after scoring 88 in 94 balls in the 42nd over, Harmanpreet was dismissed on a run-a-ball 70 in the 31st.
England put the breaks on India after that, with Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma falling in the 46th and 47th overs. Deepti in particular had kept India’s hopes alive until Sophie Ecclestone sent her back on 50 in 57 balls. “We are playing good cricket, we are not giving up, but have to cross the line. It’s been the last three games where we showed up with good cricket, but ended up on losing side,” Harmanpreet said.
“Our bowlers did a really good job, because when Heather was batting they were looking very good. (We) did a lot right, but last five overs, we have to rethink.”
