Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian women face a test of character

Bengaluru: When the Women’s ODI World Cup schedule was out, one might have looked at October 19 and circled it as a clash of two heavyweights: India and England, who would be on the verge of securing their semifinal spots, having stamped their authority. 

England have been right up there – at times faulty but firm most times – with a top-two finish very much in their grasp. 

On the other side, India have waded into some trouble having hit a roadblock, with back-to-back three-wicket losses at the hands of South Africa and Australia. 

While the hosts would have hoped to bulldoze their way into semifinals, the step has become a little steeper with eyebrows being raised about their progress in the event. 

India are desperate to find their mojo. And they will have the opportunity to when they meet England at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. 

Problems aplenty

India's five-bowler strategy, one which is filled with all-rounders, has been exposed by top teams, forcing a strategic rethink. The hosts now need two wins from their remaining three to ensure they aren't thrown out of their own party.

India's obsession over batting depth has made them bench a genuine wicket-taking option for an all-rounder, which has turned out to be their undoing. 

And during both defeats, the post-match talks have been identical - blame on the batting and death bowling. 

However, Amol Muzumdar has hinted at least one change. Renuka Singh could come in place of Harleen Deol as the team looks for more penetration in the pace department. 

And it isn’t only the tactics that have let them down. The players, too, have not met expectations. 

The problems start right at the top. Smriti Mandhana has often scored consistently, inspiring India to quick starts that have laid the foundation for the middle-order to take over. However, except for the Australia game, she has seemed off-colour. 

India have also lacked a dynamic middle-order to carry on after top-order setbacks, with Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues having struggled to get going.

The repair work, however, has come only in the form of Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh.

Despite falling short, the batting order might not be disturbed, considering the amount of backroom trust the batting group has won. 

It would be interesting to see if India take the aggressive approach by playing an extra seamer or continue to back their batting to do the heavy lifting.  

As for England, they may be unbeaten but they have had problems of their own. 

While their top-order has been fragile, they have had to bank on their skipper Nat-Sciver Brunt and former captain Heather Knight to bail them out of tough situations. They also have the rain gods to thank against Pakistan, while they were staring at a possible defeat.  

England have seven points and are just one win away from the knockouts and all the pressure is on India, who face a test of their character.

India, having been pushed into a corner by their own failures, will hope to stand up, fight and come out of the hole they have dug themselves into before they slip to a point of no return.