Snehasis Mukherjee in Indore
Team India came into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 as one of the favourites, especially with the tournament being hosted in India and Sri Lanka. The Women in Blue started well, registering convincing wins over Sri Lanka in Guwahati and Pakistan in Colombo.
But things changed in Vizag. India were humbled by South Africa and then Australia. With just three group games left, India now have four points from four matches and a net run rate of +0.682. Suddenly, their campaign has hit a roadblock.
After two back-to-back defeats, questions have begun to surface around captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and head coach Amol Muzumdar’s planning. The team’s decision not to include a sixth-bowling option has drawn criticism, especially as dew played a big role while defending totals in both losses. With the England clash set for October 19 in Indore, time is running out for both Harmanpreet and the coach to find solutions.
The six-day gap after the Australia match gives them a valuable window to reassess. Their first task should be to sit down together, address the team’s issues, and regroup with a stronger combination against Nat Sciver-Brunt’s in-form England.
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Individually, Harmanpreet’s form has been a major concern. Other captains in the tournament have led from the front — Australia’s Alyssa Healy hit a match-winning hundred against India, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt has a century and four wickets to her name, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt made a crucial 70 against India, and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine leads the run charts with 260 runs from three innings, including two fifties and one century.
In comparison, Harmanpreet has scored only 71 runs in four innings at an average of 17.75. She has looked good in patches but has struggled to convert starts. Her shot selection and field placements, particularly against Australia, have also come under the scanner.
This is her fifth ODI World Cup, but her first as captain. At 36, this could well be her final World Cup — and what better way to sign off than by leading India to their maiden title, that too on home soil.
For head coach Muzumdar, the stakes are equally high. Appointed in October 2023, on a two-year term, this is his second major ICC event after India’s early exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup. If India fail to progress to the semi-finals, it could mark a disappointing end to his tenure.
Both Harmanpreet and the coach need to inspire a turnaround quickly. The England game is crucial, followed by matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh. Can they rally the squad and bring India back into contention? Time will tell, but the next week will define their World Cup journey — and possibly their future with Indian cricket.
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