India’s Top Order Struggles Cast Shadow Over World Cup Campaign
As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 unfolds in thrilling fashion, one team’s recurring nightmare refuses to fade: India’s misfiring top order. Despite flashes of brilliance from individuals like Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol—who’ve each posted match-defining centuries—the batting unit as a whole continues to stumble out of the gates, raising serious doubts about their title credentials.
Collapses against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and South Africa have painted a troubling pattern: India’s openers and No. 3 batter are averaging under 22 this tournament, often leaving the middle order to rebuild from 30/3 or worse. In a competition where momentum and early runs win matches, this trend could be fatal.
Why India’s Top Order Keeps Failing
Several factors are at play:
- Pitch misreading: Early games in New Zealand featured seaming tracks that demanded patience—but India’s openers often chased width or played across the line.
- Pressure handling: Facing must-win scenarios after early losses, the top three have looked tense rather than assertive.
- Lack of settled pairings: The selectors have rotated three different opening combinations in just five matches, disrupting rhythm.
Individual Brilliance vs. Collective Fragility
Pratika Rawal’s 112 against South Africa and Harleen Deol’s unbeaten 104 versus Pakistan were masterclasses in composure—but both came after early wickets. That’s not sustainable in knockout cricket.
“You can’t keep relying on rescue acts,” said former India batter Anjum Chopra. “World Cups are won by teams that dominate the first 15 overs—not survive them.”
India’s Top-Order Stats in Women’s World Cup 2025
| Batter | Matches | Runs | Avg | Strike Rate | 50+/100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 5 | 89 | 17.8 | 72.3 | 0 |
| Shafali Verma | 4 | 64 | 16.0 | 88.9 | 0 |
| Yastika Bhatia | 3 | 41 | 13.6 | 65.1 | 0 |
| Team Top 3 Avg | — | — | 15.8 | — | — |
Compare that to tournament leaders Australia, whose top three average 48.2 collectively—and the gap is stark.
Richa Ghosh: “We’re Learning Every Day”
Despite the setbacks, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh remains upbeat. “We’re not panicking,” she told reporters after the South Africa match. “Every game teaches us something. The mindset in the dressing room is still very positive.”
That resilience is admirable—but in a World Cup, results matter more than morale. With the Super Six stage approaching, India can’t afford another slow start.
What Needs to Change?
Experts suggest three immediate fixes:
- Promote Harleen Deol to No. 3 for stability.
- Stick with one opening pair—Shafali and Smriti need time to rebuild trust.
- Pre-match simulation drills focused on powerplay pressure scenarios.
The talent is there. The fight is there. But unless India’s top order fires consistently, their World Cup journey may end far sooner than fans hope.
Sources
- The Times of India: Women’s World Cup: India’s misfiring top order a concern
- ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 – Official Statistics Portal
- Interviews with former Indian women’s cricket team analysts