As the countdown to the ICC Women’s Cricket 2025 World Cup ticks down, excitement is palpable across India.
Hosting the tournament alongside Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, the Women in Blue, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, have a golden opportunity to claim their maiden 50-over World Cup title on home soil.
With a balanced squad blending experience and youth, India’s chances look promising, but success will hinge on sharpening key skills like catching, running between the wickets, strike rotation, and fielding. Let’s dive into their prospects and the priorities they must embrace to lift the coveted trophy.
India’s Prospects: A Strong Contender
India’s squad for the 2025 World Cup is a potent mix of seasoned campaigners and rising stars. Harmanpreet Kaur, leading for the first time in a 50-over World Cup, brings big-match temperament, famously showcased by her unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 semi-finals. Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain and fastest Indian woman to 4,000 ODI runs, anchors the top order with Pratika Rawal, who averages a stunning 54.07 in 14 ODI innings. The middle order, featuring Jemimah Rodrigues (729 runs in 19 innings last year, averaging 40.50) and power-hitter Richa Ghosh, adds depth and flair.
Deepti Sharma, one of the world’s best all-rounders, and the returning Renuka Singh Thakur bolster a versatile bowling attack, with spinners like Radha Yadav and Sree Charani ready to exploit spin-friendly home pitches.
Recent performances fuel optimism. India’s 2-1 ODI series win against England in July 2025, sealed by Harmanpreet’s seventh ODI ton and Kranti Gaud’s six-wicket haul, demonstrates their form. Hosting the tournament gives India a familiarity advantage, with venues likely favoring spin and disciplined batting. However, the heartbreak of the 2017 final loss to England at Lord’s and the group-stage exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup serve as reminders that potential must translate into execution. To win, India must prioritize four key areas: catching, running between the wickets, strike rotation, and fielding.
Priority 1: Catching – Seizing Every Chance
Fielding lapses, particularly dropped catches, have haunted India in past tournaments. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, India’s fielding was inconsistent, with dropped catches against Australia proving costly. While exact catch success rates for recent ODIs are unavailable, ESPNcricinfo data highlights India’s fielding as a mixed bag, with players like Jemimah Rodrigues and Harleen Deol among the team’s best catchers. Rodrigues, with her agility, has taken multiple catches in a series, but the team’s overall catch retention needs improvement. A dropped catch can turn a match, especially in high-pressure World Cup games.
For instance, in the 2017 semi-final, Harmanpreet’s 171 might have been curtailed if Australia had held their chances. On spin-friendly Indian pitches, where edges are frequent, safe hands in the slip cordon and outfield are non-negotiable.
Regular catching drills under match-like pressure, focusing on slip fielders like Deepti Sharma and outfielders like Mandhana, will be crucial. The team’s preparatory camp in Visakhapatnam, starting August 20, 2025, should emphasize reflex training and high-ball catching to boost confidence. With Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia as wicketkeeping options, India must ensure their glovework is sharp to capitalize on faint edges.
Priority 2: Running Between the Wickets
Maximizing Runs Running between the wickets is an art India must master to keep the scoreboard ticking. In T20Is, India’s team strike rate has lagged behind top teams like Australia, with Firstpost noting that India’s run-rate in recent T20Is hovers around 7.5 runs per over compared to Australia’s 8.2.
While ODI run-rates are lower, the principle remains: quick singles and twos stretch opposition fielders and maintain momentum. Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal’s opening partnerships have been solid, but the middle order, including Harmanpreet and Rodrigues, sometimes struggles to rotate strike effectively.
Efficient running reduces pressure on big shots, especially on slower Indian pitches where boundaries are harder to come by. In the 2025 England series, India’s ability to convert ones into twos helped them chase 250+ in the decisive ODI. Poor running, conversely, led to run-outs in the 2024 T20 World Cup, derailing chases.
Drills focusing on calling and backing up, as advised by former captain Mithali Raj, can sharpen decision-making. Pairs like Mandhana-Rawal and Rodrigues-Deepti should practice quick singles in simulated match scenarios. With young legs like Pratika and Kranti Gaud, India can afford to be aggressive, turning dot balls into runs and keeping the opposition on their toes.
Priority 3: Strike Rotation – Keeping the Bowlers Guessing
Strike rotation is critical in ODIs, where sustained scoring prevents bowlers from settling. India’s top run-scorers in the last year—Mandhana (1003 runs, avg. 50.15), Rodrigues, and Rawal excel at finding gaps, but Harmanpreet’s recent form (lacking runs before her England ton) highlights the need for consistency. In T20Is, Shafali Verma’s 158.25 strike rate in 2020 showed India’s potential for aggressive rotation, but the ODI format demands smarter placement over brute force.
Rotating strike disrupts bowlers’ rhythm and builds partnerships. In the 2025 England series, Deepti Sharma’s ability to work the ball around (43.93 strike rate in Tests, adaptable to ODIs) rescued India from tricky situations. On home pitches, where spinners dominate, nudging the ball for singles is as valuable as boundaries.
Batting practice should focus on soft hands and wristwork to maneuver spin, as seen in Mandhana’s elegant drives. Harmanpreet, at 36, must rediscover her 2017 fluency to anchor innings, while Rodrigues should continue playing the sheet-anchor role. The team’s spin-heavy attack, including Deepti (30 wickets in 19 ODIs last year) and Radha Yadav, can simulate match conditions in nets to prepare batters for tight bowling.
Priority 4: Ground Fielding – Energy and Athleticism
India’s fielding has improved but remains a work in progress. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, their ground fielding was energetic, but misfields in crucial moments hurt. India’s outfielders, like Jemimah, Harleen Deol and Amanjot are among the best, with Deol’s spectacular boundary catches earning praise. However, the team’s overall fielding stats (catches per match, run-outs effected) lag behind Australia’s slick standards. Athletic fielding saves runs and creates pressure. In the 2025 England series, Kranti Gaud’s direct hit run-out shifted momentum, showing the impact of sharp fielding.
On home grounds, where every run matters, India must minimize errors to challenge top teams like Australia, New Zealand and England. Fielding coach Amol Muzumdar should prioritize agility drills and throw-downs to improve accuracy. Youngsters like Pratika Rawal and Amanjot Kaur, known for their energy, can set the tone in the outfield. Sneh Rana’s fighting spirit, evident in her 80-run Test knock, should translate into diving stops and quick returns.
India’s group includes tough opponents like Australia and Sri Lanka, who stunned them in the 2024 Asia Cup final. Australia’s 25-8 T20I head-to-head dominance over India (ODI stats are similar) makes them favorites, but India’s home advantage levels the playing field. The absence of Shafali Verma, despite her T20 flair, reflects a focus on consistency, with Rawal’s form preferred. The spin trio of Deepti, Radha, and Sree Charani, combined with Renuka and kranti’s swing, gives India a bowling edge on subcontinental tracks.
India’s chances of winning the 2025 World Cup are strong, buoyed by home support, a balanced squad, and recent form.
As Harmanpreet said at the ‘50 Days to Go’ event, “This World Cup will be very special.” With packed stadiums and a nation cheering, the Women in Blue have a chance to script history. If they nail the basics, the trophy could finally be theirs. The Visakhapatnam camp, will be pivotal for fine-tuning their skills. Drills focusing on catching, strike rotation and ground fielding will prepare them for crunch moments.
