Women’s World Cup 2025: India Women’s bowling falters against South Africa and Australia — here’s a look at what’s going wrong.
After a successful start with two back-to-back victories, India Women’s campaign in the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has hit a roadblock. They faced two consecutive defeats against South Africa and Australia. And on both occasions, it’s their bowling that let them down. On October 19, they will be up against England’s powerful batting unit at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
In the Women’s World Cup 2025, India women have picked up 34 wickets in four innings. They are placed third for most wickets as a team in this tournament, after Australia and New Zealand. But the Blue Brigade’s bowling unit has consistently leaked runs. Their economy of 5.10 is the third worst in the event. None of the top three sides, Australia, South Africa, and England, have a bowling economy rate over five.
Read More: Women’s World Cup 2025: What India need to do for getting semi-final berth?
India Women’s poor bowling performance against South Africa and Australia
India’s left-arm spinner Shree Charani has been India’s leading light with six wickets at an economy rate of 4.14. Deepti Sharma, however, being India’s leading wicket-taker (9) hasn’t impressed with her economy (5.25). The situation is similar for Kranti Gaud and Sneh Rana, who have picked up six wickets each. This is where India need to improve.
Australia, for example, have used the variety in the bowling unit as their strength. Annabel Sutherland is their highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets at an economy rate of 3.26. Apart from Sophie Molineux and Ashleigh Gardner, none of their bowlers have an economy rate of over five.
The problems with India’s bowling attack surfaced in the game against South Africa where the India bowlers reduced the Proteas to 81/5 in the latter’s chase of 251. But the 69-run stand for the seventh wicket brought the opposition back in the contest.
With South Africa at 211/7 in 45.5 overs, India still had the chance of seizing the victory. But both of India’s pacers, Kranti Gaud and Amanjot Kaur, struggled with their line and length. They shared combined match figures of 3/99 in 14.5 overs at an economy rate of nearly seven.
Three days later, India set a target of 331 for Australia in the second innings. But there was not a single moment in the chase when the Alyssa Healy-led side looked under pressure. When the required run-rate climbed to eight, their batters comfortably found regular boundaries to bring it down.
Sneh Rana, who came in as the first change bowler in the attack, leaked 85 runs in her 10 overs, without any wickets. Again, the pacers lacked consistency with their line and length. India’s pacers finished with a combined figure of 2/141 in 18 overs at an economy rate of 7.83.
Read More: Women’s World Cup 2025: India’s misfiring middle order might hurt them against stronger opponents
Five proper bowlers or overs from batters – India need clear planning
India’s issue in this competition has been around their bowling combination. As of now, they have three spinners, Deepti, Charani, and Rana, along with two pacers, Gaud and Amanjot, in the eleven. Both Deepti and Charani are capable of bowling 10 overs each in their spell. However, the same cannot be said for Rana.
In the pace bowling unit, both Gaud and Amanjot have been smashed for runs in the previous two games. This has opened a chance to make changes. The management can bring Renuka Singh into the equation. In her only game against Pakistan, the right-arm pacer ended with 0/29 in Colombo. But if they leave out Amanjot from the eleven to bring Renuka, then it will lighten their batting order.
Amanjot has already contributed with the bat in this tournament. She has scored 86 runs in three innings with one half-century. Another issue for the management is that none of their top six batters bowl frequently in this format. But they will now have to find at least six to eight overs between Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, and Harmanpreet Kaur.
So, India will have to be crystal clear on which path they take for the England fixture. Their first option is to go with five proper bowlers and drop Amanjot from the eleven. Alternatively, they can keep Amanjot and bring Renuka in place of Gaud. That will push their batters to roll their arms for seven to eight overs in the innings.
England’s Tammy Beaumont has struggled against the in-swinging deliveries in this tournament. Both Marufa Akter and Diana Baig dismissed her with big inswingers. Against Pakistan, Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s mainstays, fell to in-swinging deliveries. This should be enough for the Blue Brigade management to go with Renuka in the eleven.
At present, India stand fourth on the points table. However, another defeat could make it incredibly difficult for them to qualify for the semifinal. A crucial clash against England awaits on October 19 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Read More: India’s lower order have put up rescue acts in first 3 games in WWC 2025; What’s making them tick?
