India’s Pratika Rawal during a practice session ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup ODI cricket match between India and Australia at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, on October 11, 2025.
| Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
After a blitz from Nadine de Klerk stole a win from under India’s feet against South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam a few days ago, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur sat quietly, processing the downward spiral.
It was a game India’s famed batting line-up should have put to bed before the fielding effort began.
But the top-order, like it did against Sri Lanka (in Guwahati) and Pakistan (in Colombo), combusted meekly. There’s barely any turnaround time, with defending champion Australia calling here on Sunday.
Centuries from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney had saved the top-ranked side the blushes against New Zealand and Pakistan, proving the value of having 11 players who can bat. That said, captain and opening bat Alyssa Healy doesn’t think the team will pick being conservative early on.
“The PowerPlay still plays a crucial role in this World Cup. It seems to be throughout the middle overs that some sides have been managing to squeeze oppositions, but I still think if you can get off to a good start and set a platform, that’s going to be really important to putting a good total out there or chasing something down. There’s a bit of a fine balance in that regard,” she explained.
India, too, has been propped up by middle-order rescue acts in every game so far. Worryingly, its top five averages lower (23.13) than SENA teams (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) — and therein lies the problem.
Australia’s versatile and effective bowling attack might not allow a recovery if the top five fail again. An alarming number of dot balls (127 balls vs Sri Lanka, 172 vs Pakistan, 184 vs South Africa) is another concern for the Women in Blue.
It might be worth revisiting the team combination ahead of the crucial fixture as India operates with only five proper bowling options. Harmanpreet came in as the sixth in the game against South Africa.
Against an Aussie arsenal that’s packed in both departments, India might want to bring in reinforcements.
Published – October 11, 2025 07:03 pm IST
