The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final between India and Australia was already a high-stakes thriller—but it was a single, controversial DRS decision involving Smriti Mandhana that sent shockwaves through the match and sparked a heated debate among fans and experts alike.
Smriti Mandhana’s Dismissal: What Actually Happened?
Chasing a daunting 339, India needed a strong start. Smriti Mandhana, one of the team’s most reliable openers, was looking in fine touch, having scored 24 runs off 31 balls. Then came the moment that changed the game’s momentum.
Australian captain Alyssa Healy, with just seconds left on the review clock, called for a DRS check on an lbw appeal that had initially been turned down. UltraEdge showed a faint spike, suggesting a possible nick. On that basis, the third umpire overturned the on-field ‘not out’ decision, sending Mandhana back to the pavilion.
Mandhana stood her ground, visibly stunned. Replays from multiple angles offered no conclusive visual evidence of bat-ball contact, leaving many to question whether the spike was genuine or just background noise—a known limitation of the UltraEdge system under certain conditions.
The Ripple Effect of a Single Wicket
This dismissal wasn’t just another wicket—it came at a critical juncture. Mandhana and Shafali Verma had steadied the ship after an early scare. Her exit not only dented India’s scoring flow but also handed Australia a psychological upper hand.
While Jemimah Rodrigues would later stage a heroic comeback with a match-winning 127*, the early loss of Mandhana forced India into a more cautious approach during the middle overs, making the chase even more challenging.
Expert Opinions and Fan Outrage
Former players and commentators were divided. Some argued that the benefit of the doubt should always go to the batter when visual evidence is inconclusive. Others maintained that if the technology shows a spike, the system must be trusted—even if it feels harsh.
On social media, #JusticeForMandhana began trending across India, with fans sharing side-by-side video comparisons questioning the legitimacy of the edge. Cricket analysts pointed out that similar spikes have been dismissed as false positives in past matches, adding fuel to the controversy.
DRS in Women’s Cricket: A Growing Conversation
This incident has reignited the discussion around the consistency and calibration of DRS technology in women’s cricket. While the men’s game has had years to refine its use of these tools, critics argue that the women’s game deserves the same level of technical scrutiny and fairness.
Key questions remain: Should there be a higher threshold for overturning not-out decisions when visual proof is absent? And should the ICC consider reviewing how UltraEdge is implemented across all international formats?
Match Context at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Smriti Mandhana |
| Score at Dismissal | 24 (31 balls) |
| Mode of Dismissal | Caught behind (via DRS UltraEdge) |
| Match | ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Semi-Final (IND vs AUS) |
| Outcome | India won by 5 wickets, chased 339 |