India and New Zealand Set for High-Stakes Showdown in Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

The D.Y. Patil Stadium holds a special place for India’s women’s cricket team, as it has consistently attracted large crowds in support of the Women in Blue, regardless of the weather conditions. This tradition is expected to continue on Thursday when India takes on New Zealand in what is essentially a virtual quarterfinal for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Despite the festive season and predictions of unexpected rain, the match is already sold out.

After three consecutive defeats, India hopes to regain its momentum and move closer to securing a spot in the semifinals. Although India has not played an ODI at this venue yet, the team can draw confidence from their experiences in the Women’s Premier League held here. The red-soil pitch is expected to be conducive to scoring, placing the responsibility on the batters to step up.

India, being the tournament favorite and host, has faced challenges in seizing critical moments. Their narrow loss while chasing England’s 289-run target in Indore leaves questions about the team’s ability to progress to the knockouts. So far, no top Indian batter has successfully finished games, creating undue reliance on Richa Ghosh, an issue that needs addressing in this crucial match.

It’s crucial for senior batters like Smriti Mandhana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues to perform. Harmanpreet has accumulated 141 runs in five matches, while Smriti has bounced back with over eighty runs in her last two innings. Jemimah, familiar with the venue, might be called upon again after being left out in Indore.

Head coach Amol Muzumdar mentioned having ‘some honest discussions’ within the team and acknowledged the importance of converting fifties into hundreds, especially when Smriti exits early, affecting the team’s strike rate with players like Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol on the crease.

New Zealand arrives after a rain-affected series in Colombo and will rely on the seasoned Sophie Devine, who has amassed 260 runs in three innings. Her performance is expected to be pivotal for the White Ferns. With a potentially high-scoring match, the team bowling second could face challenges once dew sets in. Nonetheless, India must stay focused, manage nerves, and embrace the tournament theme—having the ‘will to win.’

Published on October 22, 2025.