Snehasis Mukherjee in Visakhapatnam
Team India suffered their first setback in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as South Africa stunned them with a thrilling three-wicket win in Vizag. After three games with two wins and a loss, the Women in Blue sit third in the points table with four points and a net run rate of +0.959.
However, a major concern that continues to grow is the form of India’s batting unit. In all three matches so far, India have suffered repeated batting collapses. Each time, the lower order has had to step up and rescue the innings. The main issue has been their continued struggle against spin — particularly left-arm spin.
In three games so far, out of the 28 wickets India have lost, 14 have come against spin. And remarkably, 12 of those 14 have been against left-arm spinners (4 vs Sri Lanka, 3 vs Pakistan, and 5 vs South Africa). This pattern clearly points to a worrying trend that India must fix quickly.
Whether in Guwahati, Colombo, or Vizag, whenever the surface offered even a hint of grip or turn, India’s batters have found it tough to handle. The problem is not just the conditions but their approach — the same type of dismissals, poor rotation of strike, and pressure leading to rash shots.
For More Exciting Articles: Follow RevSportz
One of the major problems has been strike rotation. The Indian batters often fail to find gaps or push for singles and doubles. That builds pressure, forcing them to go for big shots and lose their wickets. Their running between the wickets has also lacked urgency. There were several instances against South Africa where doubles were possible, but the players settled for singles. In contrast, the Proteas showed intent, converting singles into twos whenever possible.
Every top-order batter — Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues — has struggled against spin. This is not a new issue that has come to the fore during this World Cup; it has been visible throughout 2024.
Dismissals against spinners since January 2024:
- Smriti Mandhana: 12 dismissals in 30 innings (Right-arm spin – 4, Left-arm spin – 8)
- Pratika Rawal: 14 dismissals in 20 innings (Right-arm spin – 6, Left-arm spin – 8)
- Harleen Deol: 11 dismissals in 23 innings (Right-arm spin – 5, Left-arm spin – 6)
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 11 dismissals in 25 innings (Right-arm spin – 5, Left-arm spin – 6)
- Jemimah Rodrigues: 13 dismissals in 26 innings (Right-arm spin – 5, Left-arm spin – 8)
These numbers show that left-arm spin has been a consistent problem for the Indian batting lineup.
The dismissals have also shown a pattern. Smriti Mandhana, for instance, often loses her wicket early while attempting big shots against spin — like her dismissal to Nonkululeko Mlaba in Vizag. Harmanpreet Kaur’s dismissal against Chloe Tryon was also a repeated one. The ball outside off, varying in pace, tempted her into a shot against the spin, resulting in an edge to Marizanne Kapp.
Even before the World Cup, in the home ODI series against Australia, the off-spinner, Ashleigh Gardner, similarly dismissed Harmanpreet. Jemimah Rodrigues, too, continues to struggle with her sweep shot — her go-to option against the spinners. She was trapped LBW while sweeping Nashra Sandhu of Pakistan and against Tryon in Vizag.
So, how long can India afford to keep repeating the same mistakes? The tournament is moving fast, and the batting unit needs to find stability soon. The next four matches will test them against strong spin attacks, especially left-arm spinners — Australia (Sophie Molineux), England (Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith), and Bangladesh (Nahida Akter and Sanjida Akter Meghla). Only New Zealand are without a left-arm spinner in their ranks.
If India’s batters do not address these flaws quickly and find a way to play spin better, their home World Cup campaign could be in serious trouble. The signs are clear — unless the top order steps up, the lower order will not be able to bail them out every time.
Also Read: Nadine de Klerk’s power show stuns India as South Africa clinch thriller in Vizag