The India vs New Zealand clash in the Women’s World Cup has turned into a virtual quarterfinal. After three consecutive defeats, Team India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will look to bounce back strong and secure a semifinal spot when they face New Zealand on Thursday at the DY Patil Stadium.
If India defeats New Zealand on their home turf, they will become the fourth team to qualify for the semifinals, joining Australia, South Africa, and England. However, another loss will push them into a tricky situation where qualification will depend on other results.
If India loses to New Zealand, they will have to hope for England to beat New Zealand in the next game and then win their final league match against Bangladesh to stay in contention.
India was once seen as a strong semifinal contender, but back-to-back defeats have disrupted their campaign. While Australia and South Africa exposed India’s bowling weaknesses, the biggest disappointment came in Indore against England—where India failed to chase 56 runs off 54 balls.
India’s main concerns go beyond bowling. The team has struggled under home pressure, and inconsistency in batting and bowling remains a big issue for both captain Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Amol Muzumdar. None of India’s top batters have managed to stay long enough at the crease to finish matches, and bowlers have lacked rhythm and control.
The experienced duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana will once again carry the team’s hopes. In the last game, India brought in Renuka Thakur for her swing bowling and dropped Jemimah Rodrigues, but the move didn’t deliver the desired results. If India sticks with this lineup, the pressure will fall on Harleen Deol, who hasn’t been able to convert good starts into big scores.
The DY Patil pitch usually favors batters, but teams batting first will need to be cautious about the dew factor in the second innings.
For New Zealand, the experienced pair of Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates will be the key challenge for India. After two rain-affected matches in Colombo, New Zealand will be eager to play a full match and stay alive in the tournament.
Probable Playing XIs:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (WK), Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaur, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shri Charani, Radha Yadav, Uma Chhetri.
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (C), Isabella Gaze (WK), Maddy Green, Polly Inglis (WK), Bella James, Georgia Plimmer, Suzie Bates, Brooke Halliday, Amelia Kerr, Eden Carson, Bree Illing, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
