India’s campaign at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has reached its final league-stage stop, and while the semi-final spot is already secured, Sunday’s clash against Bangladesh at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy holds strategic significance far beyond the points table.
For Harmanpreet Kaur’s India, this is less about result and more about refinement, rhythm, and readiness for the knockout stage. For Nigar Sultana’s Bangladesh, this match represents one last chance to make a statement in a tournament where they’ve fought hard but fallen short of closing out key contests.
India enters Match 28 firmly locked in fourth position on the points table. Their 53-run DLS win over New Zealand confirmed both qualification and seeding, ensuring they will face the table-toppers Australia in Semi-Final 2, to be played on the same ground later this week.
That clarity means Sunday’s fixture will act as a controlled experiment, not a must-win battle. India will use it to:
- Simulate potential dew-heavy conditions, identical to what they will face in the semi-final.
- Rotate specific players to test bench strength and fitness.
- Address the few remaining vulnerabilities in the middle order and bowling depth.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar has emphasized that “momentum and execution now matter more than points,” and the team’s training sessions have been structured accordingly prioritizing dew management, middle-overs batting drills, and rotation-based workload control.
Bangladesh’s Motivation: The Spoiler’s Spirit
Bangladesh, meanwhile, sits eighth on the table with two points a single win over Pakistan but their campaign hasn’t been without promise. Narrow defeats to South Africa (by 3 wickets) and Sri Lanka (by 7 runs) underline their competitiveness. For Nigar Sultana Joty’s side, this is about pride and closure an opportunity to cap off the tournament by upsetting the hosts and proving their capacity to challenge top-tier nations.
The stakes are psychological: defeating India would be the biggest result in Bangladesh’s World Cup history. And in conditions that may favor spin coupled with predicted evening rain the door for an upset isn’t completely closed.
The Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy has quickly become the hub of India’s batting brilliance in this tournament. The surface offers even bounce and pace, encouraging fluent stroke play, and the outfield remains among the quickest in India. In the previous fixture here against New Zealand, India smashed 340/3, their highest-ever World Cup total, with Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal posting a record 212-run opening stand. Such dominance confirms the surface’s friendliness to aggressive batting, but also exposes bowlers to punishing spells if lines and lengths stray even slightly.
As a day-night fixture, dew is expected to play a defining role. If India fields second, the contest becomes an ideal rehearsal for bowling under slick conditions a challenge that has troubled Indian bowlers historically.
India’s Tactical Focus: Refinement Over Risk
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side has ticked most boxes, but two tactical priorities remain clear:
1.Middle-Order Solidity: While the openers Smriti Mandhana (331 runs) and Pratika Rawal (308 runs) have been prolific, India’s middle order has had limited time in the middle. Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten 76 against New Zealand was a timely boost, yet the likes of Harmanpreet and Harleen Deol require situational match exposure before the semi-final. Deol, in particular, has been working on her ability to rotate strike against spin a known weakness. Expect her to get a start here to face Bangladesh’s spin-heavy attack of Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Shorna Akter.
2.Dew Adaptation and Bowling Rhythm: Bowling under wet conditions remains an area of focus. India’s likely move if they win the toss would be to bowl first and expose their attack to real-match dew conditions. This is vital preparation for the semi-final. Renuka Singh Thakur will lead with the new ball, supported by Pooja Vastrakar, while Deepti Sharma’s control in the middle overs will be key in managing Bangladesh’s scoring rate.
Bangladesh’s Blueprint: Spin, Stability, and Stubborn Resistance
For Bangladesh, the strategy revolves around playing to their strengths: spin discipline and batting patience.
- Sharmin Akhter, their leading scorer (176 runs), must anchor the innings while Nigar Sultana Joty who scored 77 against Sri Lanka provides composure and control through the middle.
- The spin trio of Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Shorna Akter will carry Bangladesh’s hopes of stifling India’s batting rhythm.
- A lot hinges on Marufa Akter, the pace spearhead who famously rattled India’s top order in their 2023 ODI win. If she can remove Mandhana or Rawal early, Bangladesh gains a tactical foothold.
Their most realistic route to success lies in forcing India into a slower game defending totals of 220–250 through spin and tight fielding.
Key Player Battles to Watch
Smriti Mandhana vs Marufa Akter Power vs Precision. Marufa dismissed Mandhana twice in 2023; early wickets are vital for BAN. Mandhana, on current form, holds the advantage. Deepti Sharma vs Nigar Sultana Joty India’s premier spinner vs Bangladesh’s most composed batter. A duel that could define BAN’s middle overs. Balanced — Deepti’s control could force errors. Harleen Deol vs Shorna Akter A test of India’s spin play under pressure. Perfect simulation for India before semifinals.
Renuka Thakur vs Bangladesh Openers Swing threat in the first five overs India will look to dominate early. Renuka’s recent rhythm suggests early breakthroughs.
India’s Expected XI
1.Smriti Mandhana
2.Pratika Rawal
3.Jemimah Rodrigues
4.Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
5.Harleen Deol
6.Deepti Sharma
7.Uma Chetry (wk)*
8.Pooja Vastrakar
9.Sneh Rana
10.Renuka Singh Thakur
11.Rajeshwari Gayakwad
(*Likely debut if Richa Ghosh remains unfit.)
Bangladesh’s Expected XI
1.Sharmin Akhter
2.Fargana Hoque
3.Nigar Sultana Joty (c & wk)
4.Sobhana Mostary
5.Ritu Moni
6.Fahima Khatun
7.Shorna Akter
8.Nahida Akter
9.Marufa Akter
10.Rabeya Khan
11.Fariha Trisna
Historical Head-to-Head: India’s Command, Bangladesh’s Growth
India leads the ODI rivalry 6–1, with one match tied. However, Bangladesh’s lone win and the tie came as recently as 2023, in a spin-dominated series where conditions favored the hosts. The key takeaway from that series: Bangladesh can frustrate India if the scoring rate slows, and spin remains their equalizer. At the DY Patil Stadium, however, such conditions are unlikely to repeat. The bounce and pace here heavily favor stroke-makers, a major advantage for India’s aggressive lineup.
If India bats first: Expect an aggressive approach to simulate pressure-free acceleration. A 300+ score is probable, with Mandhana and Rawal likely to dominate again. If India bowls first: This will be a deliberate tactical move preparation for dew-heavy bowling. The goal: practice wet-ball discipline and test spinners’ control.
If rain intervenes: A shortened match could favor Bangladesh, whose spin-based attack thrives under uncertainty and low targets.
India’s current form, depth, and venue familiarity make them overwhelming favorites. Even with planned rotations, they possess the balance and confidence to outmatch Bangladesh comfortably.
Expert Forecast: Win Probability: India 80%
Likely Result: India Women win by 6–8 wickets or 70+ runs.
Player of the Match Prediction: Smriti Mandhana or Deepti Sharma.
This may not be a high-stakes clash in the standings, but for India, it’s a critical checkpoint the chance to ensure every cog in their machinery is ready for the semi-final showdown ahead. For Bangladesh, it’s about leaving a mark disrupting rhythm, fighting with heart, and ending their campaign with pride.
As the Mumbai evening dew glistens under the DY Patil floodlights, Sunday’s match will be less about the scoreboard and more about how ready India looks for the battle that truly matters next week.
