Sydney, November 1 (Sports Desk): The Indian women’s cricket team has pulled off an amazing comeback at the World Cup! After a wild ride of tough games, sad losses, and some great wins, they’ve made it to the 2025 World Cup Final.
They started strong, then hit a rough patch, losing three games in a row. But India bounced back big time, ending with a record-breaking chase against Australia in the semi-final to get to the final.
Dream Start to the Campaign
India opened their World Cup journey with a convincing win over Sri Lanka, setting the tone with a balanced all-round performance. Fifties from Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur lifted India to 269/8, while the bowlers led by Deepti herself (3/54) bowled out the hosts for 211.
They carried that momentum into the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan, where India extended their dominance with another strong showing. Harleen Deol’s 46 and disciplined bowling from Kranti Gaud (3/20) and Deepti Sharma (3/45) helped India secure back-to-back victories and early control in the group standings.
Tough Mid-Tournament Phase: Three Heartbreaking Defeats
India’s winning streak came to an end in a thrilling match against South Africa. Despite a valiant effort from Richa Ghosh, who scored 94 runs, and early breakthroughs with the ball, South Africa managed to keep their composure and chased down the target with just seven balls remaining.
The heartbreak continued in the match against Australia. Even after India set a formidable total of 330, thanks to Smriti Mandhana’s 80 runs and Pratika Rawal’s 75, Alyssa Healy’s stunning innings of 142 led Australia to one of the most remarkable chases in tournament history.
A third consecutive defeat against England left India’s semi-final hopes hanging by a thread. Chasing a target of 289, India came close with fifties from Mandhana, Harmanpreet, and Deepti. However, a late collapse meant they fell short by a narrow margin.
The Revival: Must-Win Heroics Against New Zealand
With their tournament future on the line, India delivered a dominant performance against New Zealand. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal both struck centuries, while Jemimah Rodrigues added an unbeaten 76 to post a massive 340/3 in a rain-affected match.
Despite resistance from New Zealand’s middle order, India’s bowlers held firm to seal a 53-run win (DLS method) a result that revived their campaign and confirmed a place in the semi-finals.
Rain-Marred Finish, but Momentum Intact
Rain interrupted India’s final group-stage game against Bangladesh, but before the weather took over, the team looked dominant once again. India restricted Bangladesh to 119/9 in 27 overs, led by Radha Yadav’s 3/30, and were cruising at 57/0 in reply when rain ended play. The shared points still ensured India entered the knockouts with renewed belief.
The Semi-Final for the Ages: India Stun Australia in Record Chase
In what will be remembered as one of the greatest games in Women’s World Cup history, India achieved a record-breaking chase to defeat the defending champions, Australia, and secure a spot in the final.
Australia set a challenging target of 338 runs, thanks to Phoebe Litchfield’s century and fifties from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner. India’s innings started off shaky at 59 for 2, but Jemimah Rodrigues (127 not out) and Harmanpreet Kaur (89) led an impressive recovery with a 150-run partnership.
Despite losing a few wickets towards the end, Rodrigues remained composed and guided India to victory with just a few balls remaining, marking the highest-ever successful chase in a World Cup knockout match.
From Setback to Glory
After losing three games in a row, India made it to the World Cup final pretty inspiring! The team has young players and experienced stars like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Harmanpreet Kaur, which is making fans really excited.
As the team gets ready for the final game, it’s clear that this isn’t just a comeback. It’s a story about not giving up hope and showing real toughness from the Indian women’s cricket team.