A significant blow to India’s campaign in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 occurred with a three-wicket loss to Australia in Visakhapatnam. This marks India’s second consecutive defeat, placing their semifinal aspirations in a precarious position. However, the team’s fate is still in their own hands, with crucial matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh on the horizon.
Currently, India stands third in the tournament standings with four points from two wins and two losses. South Africa shares the same points total but is in fourth place due to a weaker Net Run Rate (NRR). The added complexity is that South Africa has one game in hand, intensifying the pressure on India to secure victories.
The recent clash with Australia was a closely contested affair. Despite a spirited bowling display from the Indian team, Australia successfully chased the target, clinching the win with three wickets remaining. This defeat highlights areas needing attention, such as middle-order consolidation and capitalizing on key match junctures.
Australia’s continued success sees them firmly entrenched at the top of the points table.
India’s route to the semifinals is clear: win their remaining matches. Securing victories against both New Zealand and Bangladesh would see them finish with eight points, which is highly likely to be enough for a semifinal spot, contingent on their NRR. Winning all remaining fixtures guarantees their progression to the knockout stage. A strong performance in these games could galvanize the team towards their ultimate goal of winning the World Cup.