Despite back-to-back losses to South Africa and Australia, India’s women’s cricket team still holds a viable chance to qualify for the semi-finals of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025. They must win their remaining three matches against England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, or rely on favorable outcomes and net run rate to stay in contention.
The Indian women’s cricket team is currently navigating a critical juncture in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup after facing consecutive defeats against South Africa and Australia. These losses have complicated India’s path to the semi-finals, but the team’s qualification hope remains alive as they sit third in the points table with four points and a healthy net run rate of +0.682.
To secure a semi-final berth, India must focus intensely on their final three group-stage matches, which will determine their fate.
The remaining fixtures are:
- October 19 against England in Indore
- October 23 versus New Zealand in Navi Mumbai
- October 26 against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai
Qualification Scenarios:
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Victory in all three remaining games will give India a total of 10 points, guaranteeing a semi-final spot regardless of other results.
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Winning two out of the three matches and losing one will bring them to 8 points. This may still be sufficient to qualify, provided India maintains a superior net run rate compared to rivals such as South Africa and New Zealand.
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Losing two or more of these matches puts India’s chances in jeopardy, making their fate heavily dependent on the results of other teams' matches.
India’s campaign started strongly with commanding wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, reflecting solid batting and bowling performances. However, the narrow defeats in recent fixtures highlighted areas needing improvement under pressure. The team’s positive net run rate indicates competitive performances but also signals how important each run scored or conceded will be in the race to the semis.
The key challenge now is regaining momentum and focus in the upcoming clashes against strong opponents England and New Zealand, along with comparatively lower-ranked Bangladesh. Maintaining discipline in bowling and capitalizing on batting opportunities will be pivotal.
Coach and captain will be strategizing intensely to ensure the team capitalizes on these final opportunities, and fans will be hopeful to see India’s resilience bear fruit in this crucial phase of the tournament.
Key takeaways:
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India must aim to win all three remaining group matches for guaranteed semi-final qualification
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Two wins may suffice if India keeps net run rate healthy and other results are favorable
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Remaining opponents include England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, each presenting different challenges
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India currently ranked 3rd with 4 points but a strong net run rate gives them an edge
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The team needs to convert good starts into match-winning performances going forward
Sources:Business Standard, Indian Express, Female Cricket, NDTV Sports, Cricbuzz, CricTracker, ESPN Cricinfo