India's Women's World Cup Journey: Key Matches Ahead

India's women's cricket team is gearing up for a critical phase in the Women's World Cup, facing tough opponents like South Africa and Australia. After recent victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the team aims to build on their momentum. Key players, including Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, are under scrutiny as they strive for improved performances. The availability of Amanjot Kaur, who missed a match due to illness, adds another layer of intrigue. With the team currently in third place, fans are eager to see how they navigate these upcoming challenges. Will they maintain their winning streak? Read on to find out more about their journey ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 9, 2025, 06:08 IST

Crucial Matches Ahead for India

Following impressive victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, India is set to enter a pivotal stage in their Women's World Cup journey, facing four challenging matches in succession.

The team will first take on South Africa and the reigning champions, Australia, in Visakhapatnam, before heading to Indore and Navi Mumbai to compete against England and New Zealand.

Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, the squad aims to secure a strong start against South Africa at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

In their tournament opener against Sri Lanka, the middle-order, featuring Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma, played a crucial role in securing victory, while the pace attack of Kranti Goud and Renuka Singh was instrumental in overcoming Pakistan.

India has successfully set competitive targets in both matches, but the bowlers have been key in defending those totals. However, the team needs to address the underwhelming performances from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet, and Jemimah Rodrigues.

Amanjot's availability is also a concern, as she missed the last match due to illness. Renuka stepped in admirably, but Amanjot's batting depth will be vital against South Africa. Jemimah noted, "She didn’t have an injury, just a fever, but she seems to be recovering well."

Jemimah expressed optimism about the team's performance, stating, "It’s impressive that we are winning even when we haven’t played our best cricket. It’s intimidating for opponents to realize we haven’t had our ideal match yet, but we continue to win. In long tournaments, timing our peak performance is crucial."

Regarding the top-order's struggles, Jemimah expressed confidence in openers Smriti and Pratika Rawal, saying, "We’ve seen contributions from both the top and middle orders. It’s motivating to know we’re winning despite not having a flawless game yet."

Jemimah has accumulated 32 runs across two matches, reflecting on her performance: "In the first match, the bowling was exceptional, and I couldn’t contribute much. Against Pakistan, I formed a solid partnership. I prioritized the team's score over my own. The wicket in Colombo was tough, so we focused on building a foundation to reach 250."

Currently, India sits in third place with two wins, while South Africa is in fifth. After a rough start, South Africa rebounded from their opening loss to England, where they were bowled out for 69. They showcased resilience, led by opener Tazmin Brits, who scored a century, and Sune Luus, who contributed a steady half-century in their six-wicket victory over New Zealand.