By Trisha Ghosal in Vizag
India lost a close contest against South Africa in Vizag yesterday. After two consecutive wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, India were handed their first defeat of the World Cup 2025 by the Proteas women. Put in to bat on a surface that offered a bit of turn but was largely good for batting, India found themselves in trouble at 102/6 before Richa Ghosh’s mature 94 (77), Amanjot Kaur’s steady 13 (44) and Sneh Rana’s cameo of 33 (24) lifted them to a respectable total of 251.
Coming into the World Cup, India’s top order looked settled, Smriti Mandhana in form and others chipping in, but on the big stage, the top has simply been below par. In all three games, it’s been the lower order and the bowlers who have rescued India.
India’s score at the fall of five wickets in the three matches reads:
121/5 in 25.5 overs vs Sri Lanka
159/5 in 35 overs vs Pakistan
100/5 in 24.2 overs vs South Africa
India’s top five batters have scored 347 runs in three innings at an average of 115.67 and a strike rate of 69.82, while the bottom four have contributed 365 runs at an average of 121.67 and a strike rate of 96.05. All three of India’s half-centuries in this competition so far have come from the lower order.
Ironically, Indian batters, who grew up playing spin and face spinners even with the new ball in domestic cricket, have struggled against spin in this tournament. Across three matches, India have lost 28 wickets, with spinners accounting for 14 of those wickets at an economy rate of 4.85, an average of 27.36 and a strike rate of 33.86. Shockingly, 12 of those 14 wickets have fallen to left-arm orthodox bowlers, despite India having N Sree Charani and Radha Yadav, both left-arm spinners, in their own nets.
India’s top trio of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues have all underperformed. Before the World Cup, Smriti had scored 2100 runs in 37 innings and was in prolific form, but in three innings here she has managed just 54 runs at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 72. Harmanpreet, leading India in the ODI World Cup for the first time, has built much of her reputation on World Cup performances but is yet to find her rhythm, 49 runs in three innings at 16.33 and a strike rate of 63.64. Jemimah has endured the toughest time of all, registering two ducks and scoring just 32 runs at an average of 10.67 and a strike rate of 76.19.
To qualify for the semi-finals, four wins out of seven could be enough with a good net run rate, while five would be ideal. Each side gets to play Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, teams with relatively weaker batting line-ups and India have already beaten the first two. However, India needed at least two wins against the SENA nations, and that campaign hasn’t started well. South Africa, with their modest bowling attack, was a contest India should have won to strengthen their semi-final chances, but the defeat has set them back.
Next up are the mighty Australians, India’s toughest test. Though India recently beat them in an ODI, the quick turnaround leaves little time to regroup. For India to challenge Australia, the top five must fire. The subpar brand of cricket they have played so far will not help their cause.
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