Navi Mumbai, Oct 22 (NationPress) The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 has been the focal point for the past six months, with discussions highlighting it as a golden chance for the Indian team to finally overcome their finals curse. With favorable home conditions and enthusiastic local support, Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad entered the tournament as strong contenders for the title.

India kicked off their campaign brightly, clinching victories in their opening matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. However, a sudden downturn saw them suffer three consecutive losses to South Africa, Australia, and England, leaving their progression in jeopardy.

In a crucial encounter on Thursday at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, India faces New Zealand in a must-win situation. A victory would significantly boost their chances of advancing to the semifinals alongside Australia, England, and South Africa.

Currently tied with the White Ferns and Sri Lanka on four points, India holds an advantage in net run rate. A win against New Zealand would elevate Harmanpreet Kaur’s team to six points, and a subsequent win against Bangladesh on October 26 could secure their semifinal position with eight points, as New Zealand would be limited to six points even with a victory over an already qualified England.

Should India lose to the White Ferns, they could still qualify by defeating Bangladesh and hoping England prevails over New Zealand in their final match.

The first tiebreaker for teams finishing on equal points is total wins in the league phase, followed by Net Run Rate (NRR) and the outcome of direct clashes. India’s superior NRR gives them a fighting chance.

A win over New Zealand would also give India the edge in tiebreak scenarios against both New Zealand and potentially Sri Lanka. If India loses to New Zealand but wins against Bangladesh, they will rely on England to defeat the White Ferns to sneak into the semifinals.

Against New Zealand, India’s top order must deliver, and the middle and lower orders need to step up should the top order falter again.

While openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal are among the top scorers, they have not performed consistently as a duo apart from a brief period in the Australia match. Players like Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh, and Sneh Rana have provided sporadic contributions. On the bowling front, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and N Shree Charani have shown promise, with Deepti leading the tournament with 13 wickets in five matches, although the bowling unit has sometimes lacked depth.

In their clash against New Zealand, India must select the right combination and hope for a collective performance from their star players.

For New Zealand, advancing to the semifinals requires victories over both India and England, achieving eight points to secure the fourth slot. A loss to India means they must defeat England and hope for a significant win against Bangladesh.

Weather conditions will also play a crucial role on Thursday, with rain forecasted for the evening, which could impact the match outcome. A no-result would favor India, easing their path against Bangladesh compared to New Zealand's challenge against England.

New Zealand began the ICC ODI World Cup with losses to rivals Australia and South Africa but rebounded with a 100-run victory against Bangladesh. However, their progress was hindered by rain, causing abandonment of matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has accumulated 260 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 86.66, including a high score of 112, and the team will depend heavily on her performance.

Medium pacers Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr have been their leading bowlers, and they will be tasked with containing the Indian batting lineup. Though facing challenges, the White Ferns have a history of rising to the occasion in crucial matches, being one of only three nations to win the Women’s ODI World Cup.

In head-to-head encounters, New Zealand leads with 34 victories over India’s 22 in 57 ODIs, with one match ending in a tie.

The DY Patil Stadium pitch previously provided little assistance to bowlers, but slower bowlers may excel, as seen in Chamari Athapaththu’s performance against Bangladesh. India hopes to capitalize on the pitch's slowness with their superior resources, making it a battle of batting prowess.

Squads:

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Shree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, and Arundhati Reddy.

New Zealand: Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Gaze, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Brooke Halliday, Amelia Kerr, Eden Carson, Bree Illing, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Hannah Rowe, and Lea Tahuhu.