Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai Death Overs Remain India’s Grey Zone India may have sealed their semi-final berth with a match to spare, but bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi knows the spotlight is still very much on his attack, particularly at the death. India failed to defend 251 and 330 in consecutive outings, raising familiar concerns. “We identify grey areas like slog overs and specifically work on them, grips, angles, execution spots,” Salvi said. “Pressure overs are part of the game. It’s a process: practise in nets, then execute in matches.” Dew has been a factor across venues, but Salvi refused to…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai India walk into their final group-stage clash against Bangladesh with the rare comfort that the result will not change their fate, they are already the fourth side confirmed for the semi-finals. Whatever happens, they stay put at No. 4; waiting on tonight’s showdown between Australia and South Africa to discover their knockout opponents. But this comfort has not been gifted. India are here because, at long last, the think-tank snapped out of its stubborn state of homeostasis. Throughout the tournament and even stretching back to the bilateral series against Australia, India had looked trapped in…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai The Hardest Pill to Swallow Sophie Devine has never been one to hide behind excuses. But as she fronted the press after New Zealand’s World Cup exit, her voice carried a mix of pride, pain, and perspective. “It’s tough, I thought I’d get through this without crying, but it’s emotional,” she admitted, reflecting on a campaign that fell apart in the face of both weather and opposition. “We worked incredibly hard, but sometimes in sport, hard work doesn’t guarantee results. That’s the hardest pill to swallow.” “We Just Didn’t Score Enough Runs” Asked what…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai India have marched into the semifinals after a commanding win over New Zealand at the D.Y. Patil Stadium, finishing fourth in the league stage. The victory came on the back of a record-breaking 212-run opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, both scoring hundreds, before Jemimah Rodrigues’ fluent 76 powered India to a mammoth total. New Zealand, despite Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday’s resistance, were undone early by Renuka Thakur’s double strike. Below are excerpts from Pratika Rawal’s post-match press conference, where the young opener spoke candidly about pressure, milestones, and her partnership with…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai Sometimes, a knock goes beyond numbers, it becomes a statement of intent, a measure of temperament. At the D.Y. Patil Stadium, under a harsh Mumbai sun and the weight of expectation, Smriti Mandhana produced one such innings, a century that kept India’s World Cup campaign alive and reminded everyone why she’s the heartbeat of this team. New Zealand may not boast the most threatening bowling attack in this tournament, but this was a game that demanded calm heads and big hearts. The pressure was immense, India needed to win to qualify for the semi-finals, and…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai The sun blazes over the D.Y. Patil Stadium, and with it comes a sense of something larger than just another World Cup fixture. For the Indian women’s team, this is the day that could change everything, a must-win game against New Zealand that carries the weight of transition, legacy, and belief. At 35, Harmanpreet Kaur stands at the twilight of a glittering career. Her experience still anchors the dressing room, but the writing on the wall is clear, a new chapter is about to begin. And at the heart of that next era stands Smriti…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai New Zealand’s World Cup campaign has not gone according to plan. Having managed to play just three matches, with two washed out, they now face India in a must-win game. Even a victory might not be enough, the White Ferns will need to beat England next or defeat India comprehensively to stay alive on net run rate. With the side heavily reliant on Sophie Devine’s batting, the skipper fronted the media on the eve of the match, striking a calm but firm tone. On India’s Pressure and the Growth of the Women’s Game Sophie was quick…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai India’s campaign at the Women’s World Cup stands at a crossroads. Three straight losses have turned tomorrow’s (October 23) clash against New Zealand at DY Patil Stadium into a virtual quarterfinal. Under growing scrutiny, head coach Amol Muzumdar faced the media, fielding tough questions about selection, strike rates, the captain’s form and answering with calm precision. On Dropping Jemimah Rodrigues Muzumdar defended the decision to drop Jemimah Rodrigues against England, calling it “one of the toughest calls” of the tournament. “Jemi is an integral part of this team. But sometimes you have to take tough…

Trisha Ghosal in Navi Mumbai History, it seems, loves symmetry, especially when it comes to India and New Zealand in World Cups. Eight years ago, at Derby in 2017, India found themselves on the brink. After four wins and two losses, a knockout-like clash against New Zealand stood between them and a semi-final berth. In 2025, the storyline feels eerily familiar, two wins, three losses, and another do-or-die battle against the same opponent. Only the setting has changed; the stakes and the tension remain identical. Back in 2017, India turned pressure into performance. Mithali Raj, calm and composed as ever,…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai There’s a certain rhythm to an international team’s practice session – chatter, feedback, the sound of bat on ball, followed by a quick word from a coach adjusting a grip or tweaking a stance. But when it comes to the Indian women’s team under Amol Muzumdar, there’s a striking absence of that interaction. At the nets in Indore, where India held their first full training session ahead of their next matches, the pattern was impossible to miss. Bowling coach Avishkar Salvi was constantly on the move, walking up to each bowler, talking through lines, lengths, and…