New Delhi, Oct 17 (NationPress) Former Indian captain Anjum Chopra asserts that it will be exceedingly challenging for Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad to leave one of their batters out of the pivotal 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup match against England, scheduled for this Sunday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Following defeats to South Africa and Australia in Visakhapatnam, the Indian team currently sits in fourth place on the points table with just four points. To have any hope of advancing to the semifinals, they must secure victories in at least two of their remaining three league matches against England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.

Anjum also suggests that if a batter does sit out, seam-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy might be included in the lineup. “I would be surprised if they make a change, yet I’d also be equally astonished if they do not. It’s a tough decision for them to bench any of the batters or skip the game entirely,” she elaborated.

“Everyone has put in their utmost effort – the opening pair forged a 155-run partnership against Australia, which was nearly flawless. Furthermore, number three player Harleen Deol has delivered significant innings across all three matches. In fact, she quickly adapted during the game against Australia,” she added.

“With Harman, Richa, and Jemi present, making a choice will be quite tough. However, I suspect Arundhati Reddy might just be the one to step in,” Anjum shared in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

On the other hand, England needs to secure wins against India, Australia, and New Zealand to qualify for the semifinals. The team, led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, remains undefeated in the tournament, having narrowly escaped a significant scare against Pakistan, where they were restricted to 133/9 in 31 overs before rain halted the match.

“I believe they have played fundamental cricket. Their opening match against South Africa, where they bowled them out for 69, provided an excellent start to their World Cup journey. For a team entering the tournament under substantial expectations, the bowlers had ample time to adjust,” she noted. “This initial victory boosted their morale and gave them time to settle in.”

“Looking at their performance, we can see it hasn’t been about scoring 300 runs. It’s been about solid innings from Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka and a rescue effort by Heather Knight against Bangladesh. They face their own set of challenges, yet the outcomes have favored them so far,” she continued.

“In terms of bowling, other teams generally have more options than India, but the results have been in favor of England. I attended the match against Bangladesh, and it was indeed one of the closest contests I’ve seen England play in recent years,” she concluded.

The Holkar Stadium has seen two World Cup matches thus far, with Australia successfully defending 327 against England and South Africa easily chasing down 232. Anjum remarked that the upcoming India-England match might turn out to be a high-scoring affair in front of a packed crowd.

“Historically, it’s been a favorable batting pitch. Many excellent matches have been hosted at Holkar Stadium. The India-England clash certainly promises to be another thrilling encounter, and I hope it will draw a full house, similar to the near sellout in Vizag. I anticipate a run fest, and it should be,” she stated.

“So far, no one has set a target exceeding 330. If India can reach 330 or even 340 in the upcoming match, I am optimistic that victory will be theirs. However, we cannot overlook the prowess of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight in that lineup,” she added.

“Nat Sciver-Brunt is a remarkable player in crucial matches. She is a modern-day legend. We cannot take anything lightly, especially in a World Cup setting, but I do believe it will be a high-scoring encounter,” she concluded.