Women’s World Cup 2025: India’s Top-Order Woes Surface Again — What Needs to Change?

For the third straight match at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, India’s batting lineup has faltered under pressure. The numbers tell a clear story — one that’s becoming too familiar for fans and worrying for the team management.
In Guwahati against Sri Lanka, India crumbled from 81/1 to 124/6. In Colombo versus Pakistan, a promising 67/1 became 159/5. And most recently in Visakhapatnam, South Africa exposed the same cracks, reducing India from 83/1 to 102/6.
A team once known for its reliability and calm under pressure now finds itself repeatedly on the back foot before the halfway mark of an innings. For a side that entered the tournament as one of the most balanced in women’s cricket, these collapses are not just worrying — they’re defining.

Smriti Mandhana: The Spark That’s Missing

Perhaps the most telling statistic of all: in each of these collapses, Smriti Mandhana was the first to fall.
Over the last few years, Mandhana has become synonymous with elegance and dominance at the top of the order. Her cover drives have inspired young girls across India to pick up a bat. But in this tournament, she’s looked strangely out of rhythm.
Against Sri Lanka, she fell to an impetuous shot before settling. Against Pakistan and South Africa, she scored 23 off 32 balls in back-to-back matches — restrained, uncertain, and visibly uncomfortable.
In Visakhapatnam, her struggle was even more pronounced. An attempted heave across the line against Marizanne Kapp was uncharacteristically awkward. Inside edges, mistimed drives, and hesitant footwork marked her innings. Her attempt to break free with a six off Ayabonga Khaka was short-lived — a miscue off Nonkululeko Mlaba soon ended her stay.
Mandhana’s dismissals aren’t just personal failures; they’re momentum shifters. Her wicket often triggers a chain reaction, unsettling the rest of the top order.

Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal: Runs Without Rhythm

India’s No. 2 and No. 3 batters — Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal — have contributed runs, but not with the fluency or aggression modern ODI cricket demands.
Deol’s 107 runs have come at a strike rate of 70.39, while Rawal’s 105 runs sit at 69.07. In a format where 300plus scores are now routine, these numbers highlight India’s growing “intent gap.”
Both batters tend to start well but struggle to accelerate. The inability to rotate strike or find boundaries during middle overs means pressure inevitably shifts to the lower order — a dangerous pattern when facing elite bowling units like Australia, England, or South Africa.

The Middle Order’s Misfiring Engine: Harman Preet and Jemimah

If India’s top order has struggled, the middle order hasn’t picked up the slack.
Captain Harman Preet Kaur, known for her fearless batting, has frittered away promising starts in all three games. Her shot selection has oscillated between overcaution and recklessness — a sign that even the experienced hands are unsure of their approach.
Jemimah Rodrigues, meanwhile, is enduring a nightmare run: two ducks in three innings. Both dismissals came while playing her trademark sweep — a shot she’s usually mastered. Worse, she’s fallen to left arm spin each time, revealing a technical weakness that opponents have clearly studied.
For a player of Rodrigues’ class and promise, this World Cup has been a harsh reminder of how quickly confidence can evaporate in elite sport.

Lower Order to the Rescue — But For How Long?

The irony? India have managed to stay competitive despite these repeated collapses.
Thanks to Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur, Harleen Deol, and Deepti Sharma, the team has found ways to rebuild and post defendable totals. Ghosh’s fiery innings against South Africa — leading India to 251 — showcased the resilience and depth of this squad.
However, as every seasoned cricket watcher knows, relying on your lower order to bail you out game after game is not a sustainable strategy.
The middle and lower order should be finishing innings, not rescuing them.

What the Experts Are Saying

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, speaking on air, summed it up bluntly:
“If India play an extra batter, going in with five frontline bowlers and all their batting options, the whole point of that is to give the top order freedom — the confidence to play attacking cricket. They’re not doing that.”
Hussain’s comment strikes at the heart of the issue. India’s approach has become reactive rather than proactive. In modern ODI cricket, successful teams like England and Australia play with fearless intent at the top — trusting their depth to recover if things go wrong.
India, by contrast, seem trapped between conservatism and aggression — neither protecting wickets effectively nor maximizing powerplay overs.

The Problem of Denial

When questioned about these issues, the Indian camp has largely pointed to “difficult batting conditions.” While that might have been true in Guwahati or Colombo, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the real issue lies in mindset and method.
You can’t fix what you refuse to acknowledge.
Every team faces collapses, but the best sides use them as wakeup calls. India, on the other hand, seem to treat them as isolated incidents — temporary blips rather than symptoms of a deeper tactical flaw.

 Finding the Fix: What India Must Do

 1. Redefine the Powerplay Approach
The first 10 overs should be about controlled aggression. India’s openers must target at least 50–60 runs without reckless risk-taking. Mandhana, in particular, needs to trust her timing again rather than forcing the pace.
 2. Improve Strike Rotation
India’s middle order often stalls because of dot-ball pressure. Introducing more singles and sharper running between wickets will not only break bowler rhythm but also keep partnerships ticking.
 3. Technical Tweaks for Rodrigues
Jemimah’s repeated dismissals against left-arm spin suggest a flaw in footwork and shot selection. Working with a specialist spin coach could help her regain balance and confidence.
 4. Clear Role Definition
Each batter should know their role: who anchors, who attacks, and who finishes. Right now, too many players seem caught between roles — and indecision is costing runs.
 5. Mindset Reset
India must play fearless cricket. With the likes of Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur proving their mettle, the top order should take inspiration — not shelter — from the lower-order fightbacks.

The Road Ahead: Crucial Tests Await

India may sit second on the points table, but cracks are visible. Against a rejuvenated South Africa — boasting inform stars like Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, and Marizanne Kapp — complacency could be fatal.
Deepti Sharma, with six wickets, remains India’s standout bowler, while Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, and Kranti Gaud continue to provide solid support. But at the ACAVDCA Stadium, where batting conditions are truer, excuses about pitch difficulty won’t hold.
For South Africa, the key will be early wickets. Allrounder Nadine de Klerk said it best:
“If we break India’s top order early, we control the game.”
The message for India is equally clear — fix the top order, and you fix your campaign.

Conclusion: 

India’s Women’s World Cup journey is far from over, but it’s at a crossroads. The talent, depth, and experience are all there — yet something intangible is missing.
It’s not just about technique or tactics; it’s about intent, accountability, and adaptability.
If the top order can rediscover its rhythm, India won’t just survive this World Cup — they’ll thrive. But if denial continues to mask deeper issues, even their resilient lower order won’t be able to paper over the cracks forever.
The next few matches will determine not just India’s fate in this tournament, but the future direction of their batting philosophy.