The Holkar Stadium in Indore witnessed one of the most gripping matches of the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup a contest that was as much about history as heartbreak.
England beat India by four runs to seal their place in the semifinals, while India were left to ponder yet another close finish gone wrong. This was India’s third consecutive defeat in the tournament after earlier losses to South Africa and Australia a pattern that has put their semifinal qualification under threat. But beyond the disappointment, the match itself was layered with milestones, records, and tactical turning points that defined the outcome.
Records Galore: Knight’s Hundred and Deepti’s Milestone
England’s total of 288/8 was their second-highest ODI score against India, just behind the 305 they posted earlier this year at Chester-le-Street. The innings was anchored by Heather Knight’s magnificent 109 off 91 balls, her fastest ODI century and her first-ever hundred against India. It was also Knight’s 30th 50-plus score in ODIs and her sixth in World Cups, cementing her legacy as England’s most consistent World Cup batter. During her innings, she also surpassed her previous best against India (53* at Mount Maunganui, 2022).
From India’s perspective, the match was significant for Deepti Sharma, who reached her 150th ODI wicket — joining an elite list that includes Jhulan Goswami and becoming the second-fastest Indian woman to reach the milestone. She achieved the feat in just 116 innings, making her the fifth-fastest ever in women’s ODI history.
Fewest innings to 150 wickets in Women’s ODIs:
- Cathryn Fitzpatrick (AUS) – 91
- Shabnim Ismail (SA) – 105
- Ellyse Perry (AUS) – 107
- Anisa Mohammed (WI) – 113
- Deepti Sharma (IND) – 116
Deepti’s figures of 4/51 were the best by an Indian bowler in this edition of the World Cup, and she complemented it with a crucial 50 with the bat, almost pulling India home.
England’s Start and Collapse: A Tale of Two Halves
England’s top order got off to their best start against India in 15 ODIs, courtesy of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, who stitched a 73-run stand. Jones’ 56 (68) was her second fifty against India, while Beaumont’s contribution ensured England were 98/2 by the 21st over. The real turning point came when Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt built a 113-run stand England’s highest fourth-wicket partnership against India since 2017. However, once Sciver-Brunt fell for 48 and Knight was run out shortly after, England collapsed dramatically from 249/3 to 280/8, losing 5 wickets for 31 runs.
This late-innings wobble, largely engineered by Deepti and debutant Sree Charani (2/68), briefly opened the door for India. But England’s tail, particularly Ecclestone’s 12 off 10, ensured a defendable total.
India’s Chase: Brilliant Start, Painful Finish
India’s reply began shakily at 42/2, but Smriti Mandhana (88) and Harmanpreet Kaur (70) revived the innings with a sublime 121-run stand India’s highest partnership for any wicket in this World Cup.
Mandhana’s 88 was her ninth fifty-plus score against England, a record for an Indian batter against them, and her third consecutive score above 80 in the tournament (80 vs Australia, 88 vs England). It was also her 50th fifty-plus score across formats a testament to her consistency at the highest level.
Harmanpreet’s half-century, her 28th in ODIs, underlined her experience in the middle. Together, they had India perfectly placed at 163/2 after 30 overs, needing just 126 runs from 120 balls a winning position by every metric. But the turning point came with Kaur’s dismissal at 167. Once the skipper fell, the innings unraveled. Mandhana mistimed a lofted shot over covers, departing at 234/3. India’s run-rate stalled, and despite Deepti Sharma’s late fifty, India fell short at 284/6.
The numbers tell the story: India needed 55 from 53 balls with seven wickets in hand and still lost.
Nervous Nineties Turned Nervous Eighties
In a cruel pattern, India’s recent chases have faltered in identical circumstances. Against Australia, Mandhana was dismissed on 80 chasing 273; against England, she fell on 88 chasing 289. Both times, India had the chase under control before collapsing under pressure. This speaks less to technical flaws and more to mental execution in clutch phases a concern voiced by Smriti herself post-match:
“It collapsed, everyone saw that. It started from me. We should’ve taken the game deeper the shot wasn’t needed at that time.”
These are the margins that separate semifinalists from also-rans.
Semifinal Equation: The Road Ahead for India
With England joining Australia and South Africa in the semifinals, one spot remains — and India are still firmly in contention.
Here’s the current scenario:
- Australia: 9 pts
- England: 9 pts
- South Africa: 8 pts
- India: 4 pts (NRR +0.522)
- New Zealand: 4 pts (NRR -0.245, two no-results)
- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: Eliminated
Scenario 1: India Beat New Zealand
If India defeat New Zealand on October 23, they’ll move to 6 points, needing only to beat Bangladesh in their final match to qualify outright (8 points).
Scenario 2: India Lose to New Zealand
If India lose to New Zealand, they can still qualify but only if:
- India beat Bangladesh, finishing with 6 points, and
- New Zealand lose to England in their final game.
In this case, India will edge ahead on Net Run Rate.
Scenario 3: India Lose Both
Elimination.
The good news is that England are favourites to beat New Zealand on paper making India’s path still realistic. The bad news: another batting collapse could undo weeks of solid cricket. India’s campaign has been one of fine margins. They’ve lost three straight matches by 3 wickets, 3 wickets, and 4 runs. The effort is there, the execution isn’t.
Against South Africa, fielding errors cost them. Against Australia, an unfinished chase. Against England, panic under pressure. Each time, the pattern repeated: control for 80 overs, collapse in the last 10.
To qualify and go further India must fix the mental game. Playing deeper into chases, trusting singles over boundaries, and rotating the strike better in pressure overs are non-negotiables. Deepti Sharma’s all-round heroics and Mandhana’s consistency are pillars to build on. But the middle order must finish what the top sets up.
The defeat to England was both a reminder and a reckoning. India are not out of the tournament far from it but they can no longer afford another “so close” storyline. To reach the semifinals, they don’t just need wins; they need composure. To win the World Cup, they don’t just need form; they need belief.
Because sometimes, the difference between heartbreak and history is not talent it’s temperament.
Next Matches:
🗓️ Oct 23 – India vs New Zealand (Mumbai)
🗓️ Oct 26 – India vs Bangladesh (Kolkata)
