IND vs SA talking points, Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Wolvaardt, de Klerk show upstage Richa, Sneh fightback

South Africa decided that a Women’s ODI World Cup league fixture was the best opportunity to end a five-match losing streak against India. Chasing 252, the Protean Women registered a famous three-wicket win over the Women in Blue at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

Richa Ghosh inherited an uphill task after India’s top-order faltered again, this time at the hands of South Africa’s left-arm spinners. Her 77-ball 94, which included a crucial partnership with Sneh Rana, powered India to a respectable total of 251.

Laura Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon turned the tide after quick wickets, but South Africa will have Nadine de Klerk to thank for propelling it past the finish line. De Klerk took a toll on the pacers to end India’s unbeaten run in the tournament.

Here are the major talking points from the India vs South Africa match in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025:

Failure at the top

For a third match in a row, India’s top order failed to make a legitimate impact on the innings. Pratika Rawal was quick off the blocks, while Smriti Mandhana took quite a while before freeing herself up. After posting a decent PowerPlay score of 55, Mandhana was the first to perish off Nonkululeko Mlaba’s bowling. The left-arm spinner cleaned up Harleen Deol a few overs later. Pratika couldn’t convert her positive start and fell for 37. Jemimah Rodrigues was out for another duck, while Harmanpreet Kaur also perished soon after — a similar template to how the Indian mainstays fared in the previous two encounters.

Richa rising above the pressure

Walking in at 102 for six, Richa was thrown into the deep end once again. She had found some form in the match against Pakistan, but was up against a formidable South African side. It took the keeper-batter seven balls to get off the mark, scoring India’s first boundary after 86 balls. Thereon, she took a calculated approach against the spinners, making sure to rotate the strike with Amanjot Kaur and see out their spell. But when the pacers were back in the mix, Richa flipped the switch and took the aggressive route. Her 77-ball 94 ensured India could have a defendable total against the Protean Women.

Early breakthroughs

South Africa’s opening partnership is its biggest strength. Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were eager to get a good start, but Kranti Goud had other plans. Brits, on the back of a century against New Zealand, was dismissed for a duck after Goud took a stunning catch off her own bowling. Four wickets fell in the next 52 runs, and the Proteas were staring at a similar fate. However, Wolvaardt and Tryon, with their vast experience, began hacking down the target. Wolvaardt was castled by Goud, but Tryon kept the runs flowing with ample support from de Klerk as well.

The final stage

Until the 47th over, it seemed like anyone’s game. With Tryon back in the hut and new batter Ayabonga Khaka at the crease, South Africa needed its lower-order to pull off a heist. Needing 41 off 24 balls, Harmanpreet handed the ball over to Goud, and de Klerk sensed her golden opportunity. She smashed two sixes and a four off the first three legal deliveries to peg South Africa ahead. A couple of boundaries off Deepti Sharma’s over meant the Proteas Women needed 12 runs in 12. Two sixes off Amanjot’s medium pace sealed the game in style.

Published on Oct 10, 2025