India’s top players expressed relief after defeating New Zealand in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, securing a spot in the knockout stage. The team, after three consecutive losses, triumphed over the White Ferns by 53 runs (DLS Method) in Navi Mumbai. Their victory sets up a semi-final encounter with either Australia or South Africa, following a final group match against Bangladesh.
In a stellar performance, India’s openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal both notched centuries, leading the team to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. Jemimah Rodrigues also made a significant contribution with an unbeaten 76* after moving up to No.3 in the batting lineup.
This marks India’s first semi-final qualification since 2017, with Mandhana expressing relief at securing their spot in the final four. She emphasized the team’s perseverance after a challenging series of games.
Mandhana’s outstanding century earned her the Aramco Player of the Match award. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised the team’s collective effort in reaching the semi-finals, acknowledging the importance of their hard-fought victory.
The emergence of Rawal has been instrumental in India’s journey to the semi-finals, with her solid performances placing her as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer behind Mandhana. Rawal highlighted the simplicity and effective communication between her and Mandhana at the top of the batting order, focusing on strategic calculations and clear game plans to achieve success.