Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Scratchy India desperate for a win to steady semifinal bid as it takes on upbeat England

It’s almost funny how two teams with such similar problems find their campaigns in such different places. That’s what’s on the plate with this much-awaited Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 clash between India and England at the Holkar Stadium here on Sunday.

The Women in Blue are battling turbulence after losing two big games – against South Africa and Australia – and will need to return to winning ways to avoid relying on complicated mathematics and their opponents to wriggle their way into the knockouts.

India’s successes have come in parts. Its two wins – against Sri Lanka and Pakistan – came courtesy stand-up performances by the lower middle order and the bowling arsenal. The misfiring top order finally found some form against Australia, albeit on a flat pitch, but there too, India came up short. 

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India has yet to defeat a SENA nation at global events since 2020. Facing an unbeaten yet imperfect England could be a good chance to rewrite that run, but it will need the sum of its parts and more. The fickle weather further adds to the drama.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone will be the ones to watch out for against India in Indore
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Despite being a win away from booking a spot in the knockouts, England’s batting unit – besides skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight – finds itself in dire straits. That said, head coach Charlotte Edwards didn’t seem keen on tinkering with the eleven.

Impressive swing bowling from Pakistan left the side reeling at 78-7 before a cloudburst saved England’s blushes. It was not a one-off, as Bangladesh and Marufa Akter will attest.

India can draw confidence from that. Renuka Singh, who has featured in just one fixture so far, is a potent new ball option, but whether India will swap out a bowler or move on from its five-bowler strategy remains to be seen.

England’s bowlers, meanwhile, have barely put a foot wrong. 

With left-arm spinners ruling the roost, it will bank on Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith to replicate what Inoka Ranaweera, Sadia Iqbal, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Sophie Molineux did against the host: make early inroads and unsettle a team that finds itself on the fast lane to panic station.

Published on Oct 18, 2025