India Women’s ODI World Cup Campaign: Semi-Final Hopes Hang in Balance Ahead of Crucial Clash

Image Source : Outlook India

India’s campaign in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is at a decisive juncture as they gear up to face New Zealand in a key league match that could secure their semi-final berth. With four points from five matches, India must win at least one more game to advance, navigating a challenging points table alongside New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

India’s Journey and Current Position
The Indian women’s cricket team started strong with convincing wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but faced narrow defeats against top contenders South Africa, Australia, and England, complicating their path to the knockout rounds. Sitting fourth on the league table with four points and a positive net run rate of +0.526, India faces a must-win match against New Zealand, who also have four points but a poor net run rate. A victory here would guarantee India a semi-final spot regardless of their final group match against Bangladesh.

Crucial Scenarios for Semi-Final Qualification
The tournament format requires the top four teams from the round-robin stage of eight participants to advance to the semi-finals. India’s highest chance is to win both remaining matches, guaranteeing an eight-point finish and an unquestioned berth. However:

If India wins against New Zealand but loses to Bangladesh, they still progress if New Zealand doesn’t win their last game against England.

If India loses to New Zealand but beats Bangladesh, qualification depends on England defeating New Zealand in the final group match.

A washout against New Zealand also benefits India due to their higher number of wins compared to New Zealand.

Players to Watch and Key Statistics
Deepti Sharma leads as India’s top wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 wickets, while the batting has seen good contributions from Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine stands out as a top scorer with 260 runs in the tournament, making the upcoming clash a high-stakes battle between key performers.

Notable Updates:

India currently have four points from five matches with a net run rate of +0.526.

New Zealand also have four points but a net run rate of -0.245.

Winning against New Zealand would secure India’s semi-final place.

India’s final group match is against Bangladesh; New Zealand’s final is against England.

Deepti Sharma is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 wickets.

India’s semi-final fate depends not only on their wins but also on results between New Zealand and England.

This crucial phase marks a make-or-break time for India as the women's ODI World Cup intensifies. All eyes will be on the upcoming match in Navi Mumbai, where India’s semi-final dream hangs in the balance.

Sources: Olympics.com, NDTV Sports, Times of India, ESPN Cricinfo, Cricket Winner, Cricket.com, India Today, Female Cricket, ICC Cricket