Smriti Mandhana India vs England Women’s World Cup 2025 encounter ended in heartbreak for India, as the hosts fell four runs short in Indore after a dramatic batting collapse. India, cruising at one stage needing just 57 runs off 57 balls with seven wickets in hand, lost momentum following Mandhana’s dismissal.
Mandhana Takes Full Responsibility for India’s Collapse
Mandhana, who top-scored with a composed 88 off 94 balls, accepted full responsibility for the defeat.
“It started with me. The emotions took over, and I should have been more patient,” she admitted after the match. “We needed only six runs per over — I should have taken the game deeper.”
Attempting to loft Linsey Smith over the covers, Mandhana mistimed her shot and was caught at long-off, a moment that shifted the momentum firmly toward England.
England Capitalizes on Indian Middle-Order Collapse
Following Mandhana’s dismissal, India’s middle order faltered under pressure. Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, and Amanjot Kaur struggled to find stability as England’s spin duo, Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith, delivered disciplined spells in the death overs.
Despite the defeat, Mandhana defended the team’s selection decisions, particularly the choice to play Renuka Singh instead of Jemimah Rodrigues.
“It was a tough call to leave out Jemi, but we needed an extra bowling option,” she said. “Sometimes those decisions are made for the bigger picture.”
Deepti Sharma’s Milestone Performance
India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma was the standout with the ball, claiming 4 for 51 and becoming only the second Indian woman to reach 150 ODI wickets, following Jhulan Goswami.
Mandhana praised her teammate’s achievement, saying, “Deepti continues to be a match-winner who delivers for India in crucial games.”
Renuka Singh also bowled economically, conceding just 4.62 runs per over in her spell.
Lessons Ahead for India
As India prepares for their next fixture, Mandhana emphasized the importance of composure in crunch situations.
“We’ll assess the conditions and pick our best combination for the next match. Staying calm under pressure is something we’ll work on,” she said.
Despite the narrow defeat, India remains in strong contention for a semi-final spot, but the need for better finishing under pressure is clear.
