India faces New Zealand on Thursday at the D.Y. Patil Stadium, a match that effectively serves as a virtual quarterfinal for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Following three consecutive losses, the host nation must win to secure a semifinal berth, while New Zealand also fights for survival in the tournament.
India's campaign has been hampered by an inability to capitalize on key moments, most recently falling four runs short against England despite being in a strong position. The focus now shifts to senior batters Smriti Mandhana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and potentially Jemimah Rodrigues; having been dropped from the England match, to finish games effectively. Head coach Amol Muzumdar acknowledged the team's struggles, stating, “We accept that we were not able to finish well. We have had a very nice discussion about it... hopefully going forward we can finish the games off.”
New Zealand enters the match after a frustrating, rain-marred leg in Colombo. Captain Sophie Devine, who has been in excellent form, remains their key player. Devine acknowledged the pressure on the hosts, stating, "I can’t begin to imagine the type of pressure that the Indian team is under... playing at a home World Cup." She described the upcoming game as "pretty much a quarter final. We know the pressure that India are under at home, but we’re just going to go out there and... stick to what we do well as a Kiwi side.”
Both India and New Zealand are currently on four points, with India slightly ahead due to having more wins. A victory for India guarantees their place in the semifinals. A loss, however, would leave their fate dependent on beating Bangladesh in their final match and hoping New Zealand loses to England. If the match is washed out, India can still qualify by beating Bangladesh, or potentially even with another washout or a loss, provided other results go their way.
The D.Y. Patil Stadium's red-soil pitch is expected to favour batters, putting pressure on both bowling attacks, especially under potential dew conditions. India will need contributions throughout the lineup, potentially adjusting their bowling attack, while New Zealand seeks better starts from openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer. With rain a possibility, both teams will be desperate to control the controllable factors and secure a vital win.