India vs New Zealand, Women’s World Cup 2025: IND through to semifinals, flatten NZ by 53 runs

The game ends with Deepti Sharma snaffling a wicket off the last ball. India end their run of defeats and with that, book a spot in the 2025 Women's World Cup semifinals. New Zealand never really managed to bounce back from those two incredible innings by India's openers. 109 off 95 balls by Smriti Mandhana and 122 off 134 by Pratika Rawal, a 212-run opening partnership between them. And then Jemimah Rodrigues was promoted to No.3 and scored an unbeaten 76 off 55. To be fair though, the Indians were exceptional with the ball and in the field. They have lost matches from some utterly dominant positions in this tournament but today, they ensured that they did the perfect follow-up job to that performance with the bat.

Halliday goes for another big one fourth ball of the 39th over. Charani sent it through on a fullish length and the batter is somewhat done in by the fact that it drops in late. She reaches for it, the ball miscues off the bottom half of the bat and Rana takes the catch on the boundary.

Halliday c Rana b Shree Charani 81 (84)

Oops, the umpire has taken a hit. It doesn't look like Sue Redfern has been hurt in any way by that though.

Shankar Narayan: You don't see that often, but it is not a pleasant sight when you do. A straight full ball from Deepti and Halliday has drilled it in her direction, only for the ball to hit the umpire Sue Redfern on her chest. Players come in to do a check on her. She seems okay.

Shankar Narayan: New Zealand get the over they were looking to instill fresh momentum into the innings. Can't say from here if there is any dew on the field. If there is, we could still in be for an interesting hour or so

Halliday has gone past 50 and she is pretty much holding the fort alone in New Zealand's failing fight now.

Shankar Narayan: Halliday trying her absolute best to keep New Zealand in this chase. The equation only keeps getting steeper for them, but they are not throwing in the towel just yet

Shankar Narayan: India rushing through the overs with their spinners as the task for New Zealand only keeps harder. Green falls for 18. Rawal can do no wrong today.

As stated earlier, keep her out of the game if you can! Rawal finishes the 28th over by pulling her length back just outside off, Green swings at it, splices it up in the air and Gaud takes an easy catch at extra cover.

Green c Gaud b Pratika Rawal 18 (20)

New Zealand 154/5 in 28 overs, need 171 from 96 balls

Halliday moves to 40 in 49 balls, she has Maddy Green at the other end on 14 in 14. New Zealand's required rate has now crept up above 10.

Shankar Narayan: That is a huge wicket, especially on a pitch where big hitting hasn't been easy. Kerr was looking set and Rana may have caused a significant dent in New Zealand's chances by removing her for 45

Rana tosses up the fifth ball of the 21st over, Kerr goes for a big slog sweep. She ends up hitting it flat to Mandhana at short midwicket who has taken a sharp catch there. Kerr was crucial to New Zealand's already slim chances.

Kerr c Mandhana b Rana 45 (53)

New Zealand have crossed over into three digits. Halliday has gone after Charani a bit in the 18th over, hitting fours off the second and fourth deliveries. She has got to 18 in 23 balls, Amelia Kerr is on 40 off 45.

A rare period of stability for New Zealand. Amelia Kerr is on 32 off 37, Brooke Halliday on six off 13. NZ's required rate has gone up to 8.41 now and they are still going at only 5.40.

Oh Devine has completely missed the line of this delivery, her middle and leg stumps are rattled. "That is, in one word, special from Renuka Singh Thakur. The ball nip backs in and goes through Devine's bat and pad and crashes into leg stump. A massive dent to the New Zealand's chances," says Shankar Narayan.

Devine b Renuka Singh 6 (9)

NZ 59/3 in 11.3 overs

Right through her and Plimmer is gone! Full delivery wide of the crease, Plimmer goes for a hack across the line. It seems to take a thick inside edge and then hits the stumps. New Zealand are just not able to get a grip here.

Plimmer b Renuka Singh 30 (25)

New Zealand 51/2 in 9.3 overs

Shankar Narayan: Richa Ghosh seems to have injured herself while trying to collect that leg side ball from Renuka. The physios are out to help. Uma Chetry is the reserve wicket-keeper in case Ghosh has to go off the field. But there wont be a need for that. Ghosh is okay to continue.

Shankar Narayan: Very tight start by the Indian bowlers. No room whatsoever, and at some stage, you would assume that Plimmer and Kerr would take a few more risks.

Plimmer gets off the mark by smashing the second ball of the fourth over straight back over the bowler Gaud's head for four. Apart from that, though, it has been slim pickings for New Zealand. They are currently going at 2.50 runs an over, their required rate is 7.87. Important to note, though, that we are only four overs into this innings.

Suzie Bates' World Cup mare continues. Pratika Rawal takes the catch at cover point, keep her out of the game if you can today.

Shankar Narayan: The pressure was showing. A tight start from Renuka in the first over meant that a risk had to be taken. Bates went for it, got the outside half of the bat and Pratika takes the catch. India get the early wicket.

Renuka Singh to open the bowling for India, New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates is on strike, Georgia Plimmer at the other end. Here we go!

Shankar Narayan: Play to restart at 8:25 pm. New Zealand would need 325 runs to win in 44 overs at a required rate of 7.38 runs per over. 9 overs of Powerplay.

Some not-so-good news from the DY Patil creeping in. "The rain is back. More frustration for everyone playing and watching," says Shankar. Sigh...

She equalled the record for the fastest to 1000 ODI runs over the course of that brilliant innings in which she scored 122 off 134 balls. When she was told about the record, she says that she didn't know about she had done that. "Very happy how the team began. Just want to bat as much as I can. Mindset to bat for a longer innings is what I keep. Was struggling a bit initially but put my head down and batted. Very happy with what we have put up there," Rawal told the broadcaster.

11 runs and a wicket in that last over, India would take that any day of the week. That single wicket was that of Harmanpreet Kaur off the fifth ball but then Richa Ghosh got a thick edge the only ball she faced in the innings and it ran away to the boundary for a four.

India have set New Zealand a target of 341 to win.

Shankar Narayan: Yet another fine catch brings to an end Harmanpreet Kaur's stay at the crease. The batter slashes a short ball from Mair towards cover point but Eden Carsen grabbed it with both hands to end her short innings.

So, it's going to be a six-ball hit out practically for India to put up as big a total as possible. Jemimah Rodrigues on strike on 69 off 51. Harmanpreet is at the other end having scored 10 in 10 balls. Rosemary Mair to bowl the last over here.

And the Super Sopper is out doing its thing. Attached is a pic from Shankar.

Shankar Narayan: These are the big areas of concern for the ground staff before one can even think of starting play

Shankar Narayan: The covers are back on the ground, even though there is no rain. The indication could be that the ground staff are expecting more rain in some time.

All right, we have confirmation, this game has been reduced to a 49-overs-a-side contest. Which means India will come out to bat one more over. A 10-minute innings break followed by the New Zealand innings in which there will be a powerplay of 10 overs. Four bowlers can bowl a maximum of 10 overs.

The delay right now is because of a wet outfield that the ground staff is trying to fix.

Shankar says that while the centre cover has been taken off and the rain has stopped, a lot of the covers remain firmly in place. "The concerning aspect, despite the rain having stopped, is that there is a lot of lightning happening at the background," he says from the DY Patil Stadium.

Shankar Narayan: The intensity of rain has come down quite a bit. But there are puddles on the side boundary which would need clearing. The rain has not stopped fully for the covers to be removed either

Shankar Narayan: 23,180 spectators at the venue - a new record for the league phase of any women's World Cup match. Previous record - 22843 during India vs SL game at Guwahati. The number was recorded until 6:15 p.m. in the evening.

Well, rain was forecast and so this isn't exactly unexpected, although these are some seriously unseasonal showers in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai from a general standpoint. It is apparently all clear just about 5km away from the venue and so lets hope this passes by quickly. Meanwhile, here is a pic sent by Shankar and it doesn't look very cricket-friendly at all.

Here is an update from Shankar Narayan, who is at the DY Patil Stadium: It is raining very heavily at the venue even as the ground staff try to cover the whole of the ground. There were dark clouds hovering over the western side of the ground a few overs back and it seems like they have decided to unleash on to the ground,

The DJ at the stadium has a finger on the pulse of the weather. 'Tip tip bars paani' blares out of the stadium PA, the recently released remix and not the classic original unfortunately, as the umpires finally decide they have seen enough and ask the players to walk off with 48 overs having been bowled.

India 329/2 in 48 overs

Rodrigues reeled off three boundaries in the 46th over and then Harmanpreet Kaur was up and away with a four in the 47th. Meanwhile, the ground staff is at the ready with the covers at the boundary as a slight drizzle makes an appearance. For now, the umpires don't seem to be in any mood to take the players off.

Oh yes, Jemimah Rodrigues. Fifth ball by Kerr in that 45th over was a looped half-volley outside off. Rodrigues waits for it and then caresses it through the off side for a four. That is a half-century for her in just 38 balls. It also takes India to 301. A single next ball to end that over.

India 302/2 in 45 overs

Shankar Narayan: A sensational catch to end a superb innings. Hannah Rowe, stationed at long off, has flown to her left and pulled off a screamer. A superb knock of 122 from Rawal comes to an end

Nitin Sharma: The 122-run knock by Pratika Rawal is the 13th highest by an Indian batter in women’s ODI. Rawal’s first women’s ODI hundred of 154 remains the third highest score by any Indian batter in women’s ODIs after Deepti Sharma knock of 188 runs and Harmanpreet Kaur’s knock of 171 runs.

Well, this was bound to happen, Pratika looking to up the ante and she falls in the process. She hit a six off the fifth ball of the 43rd over and then went for another to finish it off. But this time, she holes out at long on. Amelia Kerr the wickettaker.

Pratika walks off to a standing ovation.

Rawal c sub (Rowe) b Kerr 122 (134)

Shankar: Amol Muzumdar did say that Pratika Rawal had taken to international cricket as fish to water. The opener has proven her coach's words right with a composed hundred

Nitin Sharma: Pratika Rawal becomes the eighth Indian batter to hit two or more women’s ODI hundred for India. Harmanpreet Kaur with 14 women’s hundreds sits at the top of the list for India. Rawal’s first women’s ODI hundred had come against Ireland earlier this year when she played a knock of 154 runs.

India are motoring towards a big score now. Pratika hit a century soon after her ton, and now Jemimah Rodrigues has hit four fours in the last two overs. The Mumbaikar is doing a fine job at No 3.

PRATIKA RAWAL CENTURY: A 122-ball ton for the opener, her first of the World Cup. A big moment for her. Played some wonderful shots after a slow start, and now is striking at above 80.

Bates has quickly sneaked through four overs. 4-0-15-1. Just 3 off that over.

Pratika takes a single off the last ball, and will be on strike, now on 99.

Jemimah Rodrigues is always busy at the crease, and that is why there is a school of thought she'd have been good at No 3 all along. But anyway, she is here now and she moves on to a run--a-ball 13 with her 2nd four, this time a scoop off Melie. Actually more of a top edged sweep but enough for four.

Some running repairs for Pratika between the overs, looks like her hands are cramping.

A delightful boundary through the offside from Jemimah to start the over, and then Pratika scores another fabulous square drive for four. Good over for India, 10 off Devine's 6th over.

Nitin Sharma: The 212-run partnership for the opening wicket between Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana is the fourth highest for the opening wicket and fifth highest for any wicket for India in women’s ODIs. The 320-run partnership between Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut against Ireland in 2017 remains the highest opening as well any wicket partnership for India in women’s ODIs. The 212-run partnership is the 30th highest partnership for any wicket in women’s ODI and 15th highest for the opening wicket in women’s ODIs.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: You could not blame Mandhana for playing that shot. The leg side boundary has proven to be productive for her today and she was tiring in the middle with the heat inside the venue. A fantastic knock in the most crucial game of the tournament.

India have actually decided to be flexible with their batting lineup.

Jemi comes in at No 3.

END OF Smriti Mandhana's innings: And Suzie Bates is the one to break the partnership, who would have thought. She is delighted too, the veteran is jumping around for joy. Mandhana went for the slog sweep again and finds the fielder at deep midwicket, Rowe juggles but holds on.

Smriti Mandhana c sub (Hannah Rowe) b Suzie Bates 109 (95 balls)

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: As much as the batting has been a treat to watch, that full toss from Kerr to Mandhana sums up New Zealand’s bowling performance after the Powerplay. The spinners were ineffective and now even when pace is brought back, the run flow has not stopped.

SIX OFF A NO BALL! A full toss from Jess Kerr, deemed to be above the hip, and Smriti Mandhana deposits over square leg fence for six. The free hit is not well timed though. Pratika got herself a boundary earlier in the over, she has now moved onto 85,.

The 200-run stand comes up...

...meanwhile, Jemimah Rodrigues is padded up and seems ready to come in next in the dugout, so perhaps India are finally open to change their batting lineup to match the situation.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: Very interesting to see neither Kaur nor Ghosh padded up in case a wicket fell at this stage.

Suzie Bates' part-time spin gets another over. Just three singles.

SMRITI MANDHANA IN 2025: FIVE ODI CENTURIES

She was level with South Africa's Tazmin Brits coming into the World Cup on four. The SA Opener beat her to the record of the first woman to score 5 centuries in a calendar year. But now Smriti has caught up.

CENTURY FOR SMRITI MANDHANA: 14th ODI century! After a couple of 80s, Smriti Mandhana converts this time and goes just one beyond Meg Lanning's all-time century record in women's ODIs. India's first 100 of this World Cup. As she takes the single, a quick fist pump with Pratika and then up go the arms.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: An outstanding knock from Mandhana and the best way to make everyone forget her difficult start to the World Cup.

At 30-over mark, India reach 188 --- conventional wisdom suggests teams should double the score from here but that appears ambitious. India should be aiming for at least 350 from here.

8

Screengrab: JioHotstar

Dinesh Karthik on commentary: Smriti Mandhana looks really tired. It's been a hot afternoon, looks like she is come to the point where her body is not reacting the way her mind wants it to.

Smriti Mandhana is perhaps going to let loose here! It's not been Melie Kerr's afternoon, first Smriti goes big with a slog sweep for third six. Then hits another sweep for four, this time finer. The 80s barrier has been crossed, Mandhana moves into the 90s.

Pratika Rawal is finally, finally getting a move on. Smriti Mandhana's false shots in the last over were a warning sign perhaps and it seems her partner is saying let me pick this up. Two fours for Pratika in that Tahuhu over, one the signature square cut and then a well-placed short-arm jab.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: A huge roar at the venue as the on-field call is overturned. Amelia Kerr could not believe there was bat on that. The partnership carries on

WOW, THAT IS A CRAZY MOMENT: Smriti Mandhana is walking back after taking a review, it looked like she was plumb... but UltraEdge shows a spike, the crowd roars and she is returning to the batting crease. New Zealand can't quite believe that. Guess neither can Smriti, actually. Mandhana's innings should have been cut on 77, but somehow she is still out there.

There was a similar moment in Indore too actually, that time it was Harmanpreet who reviewed and then appeared surprised that there was an edge.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: Rawal’s leg-side play to pace has been a standout feature in this innings. She has pounced on anything short and even taken on the full balls when the bowler has delivered from the commentary box end, despite a fielder being placed on the boundary almost always.

As well as she has batted today, Pratika once more going at just over a strike rate of 70... she needs to power on.

Meanwhile, the 150-run partnership comes up with a lofted drive by Pratika through midwicket. Need more of that, as Renuka might say with her drawing.

8 runs off Tahuhu's over.

This is the 2nd 150-run stand between Mandhana and Rawal in this World Cup, to go with their 155 against Australia.

Melie Kerr comes back into the attack and Pratika welcomes her with a lofted drive down the ground, with the mid on fielder in, it goes for four. A 7-run over as we reach the halfway stage of this innings.

Another boundary through the offside for Smriti Mandhana, a cut past short third. It continues to be a rich scoring avenue for Mandhana who moves in to the 70s and is now the leading runscorer at this World Cup.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: Rawal began very slowly, but has grown into her innings as the afternoon has progressed. Has been helped by some short stuff from the White Ferns bowlers, but she has played her part in building a very solid foundation for India.

HALF CENTURY FOR PRATIKA RAWAL: A second fifty of the World Cup for Pratika Rawal, it's come off 75 balls.

Smriti Mandhana finishes the over with a four, on her pads, easily pushed away past the keeper for four.

Devine brings her back from the other end, a sign that New Zealand don't see much help for spinners here at least for now. Another 3-run over.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: The crowd may have built up slowly, but it is a fantastic atmosphere now, with even spectators stationed in the upper stands on both sides of the ground.

Rosemary Mair replaces Jess Kerr as New Zealand keep pace on from one end. Three singles in that over.

A reminder that India are playing one batter extra, so they can afford to go a bit harder here.

Meanwhile, a reminder of how Smriti-Pratika have clicked as a pair.

Another risk-free 8-run over. Smriti takes on Carson over mid-on again, not so well connected but enough to clear the in-field for four. Four singles follow. Good rotation of strike.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: With not a lot of turn on offer, Mandhana has not been afraid to go against the spin to Carsen. Another boundary over mid-on for the southpaw.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: While the pitch has not aided the pacers or the spinners a lot, it has been surprising to see Devine not employ a slip for either of them right through the innings. Also, twice now, Mandhana has managed to get a four on the long-on boundary with square leg placed wide. Indifferent captaincy. 100 on the board for India in the 18th over. 50 for Smriti.

Eden Carson comes in and Smriti takes her on once more, this time against the spin and through the midwicket region. It's well placed and goes for four.

HALF CENTURY FOR SMRITI MANDHANA: A 49-ball half-century. A third straight 50+ score in the World Cup after starting the tournament a bit subdued by her standards. But the big question... what is Renuka Singh Thakur holding up there?

Oh delightful shot from Smriti Mandhana! We saw plenty of cuts and late cuts in Indore against England. And there is one more. Width from Jess Kerr on the angle and Mandhana plays it as late as possible, pierces the gap between the two ring fielders on the offside. A solid 8-run over for India, better rotation of strike.

Shankar from Navi Mumbai: It is really time to cash in for the Indian batters. 6 overs of spin so far from Carsen and Kerr, and they have not got any purchase from the surface. Devine switched to a 5-4 offside field in that Kerr over.

BIG OVER FOR INDIA: First, Smriti dances down the track to change a full delivery into a full toss and deposits over midwicket fence for her second six of the match. Pratika then plays a lovely square cut for four. It's 12 runs from the over.

Time for drinks in what is apparently a very hot afternoon in Navi Mumbai. India getting a strong foundation laid out.

It's the Kerrs bowling in tandem now. Melie from one end and Jess from the other. Jess' over goes for three runs as the run rate dips below five. India must make sure they don't slow down in this phase, it's been a problem for most part of the tournament except against England.

Shankar from DY Patil Stadium: Almost for the entirety of the innings so far, one fielder has been stationed on the cover boundary for the left-hander. Devine gave a hint to the Indian openers that Amelia Kerr would bowl a lot of googlies by keeping 4-6 on-side field in her first over. Meanwhile, Lea Tahuhu has not found her length so far in her first spell, and it has allowed Rawal to get her innings going, finally. Two fine shots in the 14th over and India’s run rate crosses the five run mark.

Tahuhu is continuing to struggle with her radar. Sprays one on Pratika's pads, and it goes for four leg byes. The Indian batter would have loved to get some bat on that gift.

Nothing wrong with the next shot! That's superb technique on display from Pratika, reads the length early and plays a pick up over long on. Oh there's another brilliant shot couple of deliveries later, holding the pose after a lofted straight drive.

Screengrab: JioHotstar

Tidy start by Melie Kerr, just three in that over. She is essentially a favourable matchup to Smriti also because she takes the ball away from the leftie with her googlies.

Shankar from the venue: It took 16 deliveries to get their first run off the bat, but Rawal and Mandhana have picked things up, specifically in the last couple of overs, which have yielded 11 and 10 runs.

Melie Kerr time. The Mumbai Indians superstar knows a thing or two about playing in these parts. Expect PLENTY of googlies.

Shot, Pratika! That's her favourite shot and it is yet another 50-run stand between these two. Short and wide, square cut away by Pratika on the backfoot for four, found the gap between point and short third. It's an erratic over from Lea Tahuhu, who struggled to get her radar right, with three wides in that over.

Nitin Sharma: India’s score of 40 for 0 is the lowest amount of runs the team has scored in the first powerplay in this World Cup. In the last match against England, India had scored 42 for 2 in the first 10. India’s highest powerplay total in this World Cup has bene 58 for 0 against Australia, where they finished up with a total of 330 runs in 48.5 overs before Australia chased the target in 49 overs with three wickets remaining.

After a really slow start, India have found some momentum at the end of the powerplay, Pratika still struggling to get a move on but Smriti looks in decent touch. A not-so-bad platform for India's deeper batting order but they need to keep moving through the gears

THERE IS THE MILESTONE: 1,000 ODI runs for Pratika Rawal, in 23 innings. The fastest by an Indian, the joint fastest in women's ODIs ever. Gets there with a stylish pickup shot for four.

Lalith Kalidas:

And Pratika Rawal is now the joint-fastest woman to reach 1000 ODI runs in only 23 innings, equalling a 37-year-old record held by Australia's Lindsay Reeler.

Fastest to 1000 W-ODI runs (innings)

23 = Pratika*, Reeler

25 = Meg Lanning, Nicole Bolton

Shankar from the venue: New Zealand’s ground fielding has been very good in the last few overs. They have dived around to stop the single to ensure the dots pile up, even if Mandhana plays one of her trademark shots over long-off for a six

SIX! The shot that Smriti Mandhana would have loved to nail against England a few nights back... ...gets it right today, goes for six. That day she didn't come down the track, here she does and that gives her momentum. Takes on Eden Carson with the spin and clears the long off fielder.

For Pratika, the runs have just completely dried out in the last few overs, she is unable to get off strike and get that 1000th run.

Oh lovely shot from Smriti to the Devine over. This one bounces extra from a good length but Smriti rides the bounce on her backfoot and plays the cut exactly between short third and point. Devine frustrated.

Meanwhile, Pratika is stuck on 999 still.

Eden Carson comes on from the other end, the favourable match-up that NZ have for Smriti Mandhana. She starts around the wicket, but strays down the leg side and the Indian opener latches on to it quickly with a sweep for four. Much-needed for Smriti.

Pratika remains on 999 runs with a couple of dot balls at the end of the over.

LALITH KALIDAS, OUR STATS-MAN:

Smriti Mandhana becomes the highest run-scorer among openers in women's ODI history, surpassing Suzie Bates' tally in 20 fewer innings. She has opened in every game for India except her ODI debut at No. 3 in April 2013.

Most W-ODI runs among openers (innings)

5089* - Mandhana (113)

5088 - Bates (133)

4921 - Laura Wolvaardt (115)

Tidy first over from Devine.

Shankar from the venue: As was the case in the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match, there is not a lot of movement off the pitch. As a result, Sophie Devine has opted not to keep even one slip in place.

CHANCE! Well not exactly, but moment of danger. Mandhana is not in control of this uppish square drive as Devine comes into the attack and has the Indian opener searching for a shot outside her reach. It falls wide of the diving fielder at point though.

Smriti gets off strike with NZ opting to keep a deep point in place. And finally, the first boundary of the match in the fifth over. Pratika gets a gift on her pad, and she flicks it through the gap through the square leg. A second boundary off the last ball but this one streaky as Pratika square drives uppishly.

Pratika now a couple of runs away from the 1,000-run milestone.

Smriti Mandhana gets off the mark after 9 dot balls with a quick single off a slower ball from Jess Kerr. (Should be grounding the bat there, Smriti!) Pratika unable to find the gaps still as Jess tempts her with a couple of wide ones.

Shankar from the venue: It's interesting that Izzy Gaze has come up to the stumps for Rawal, while Mandhana has charged down at the bowlers.

Short and wide from Mair to start the third over, but it moves away and Pratika can't get her bat on it. The next ball comes back into the right-hander, hits the pad, but sliding down so only half an appeal from NZ. Finally India get off the mark with the bat off the 16th ball of the day, first run for Pratika after 9 dot balls. Smriti plays out a couple of dots to close the over. India dotting up once again early on.

Shankar from the venue: A very patient start by the Indian openers. The first run off the bat came from the 16th ball of the innings. New Zealand has also been disciplined, giving the openers no width to score freely.

Smriti off to a cautious start with a packed offside field and Kerr's line and length bowled to that field. There is a catching gully in place along with a short cover too but perhaps surprisingly, no slip. But NZ managing to keep the Indian openers quiet here. 6 dot balls to start, and another maiden over to start off by Kerr.

Confirmation of the playing XIs.

It's a maiden over for Rosemary Mair but the scoreboard starts ticking for India with a double off the last ball. Strayed on the pads, Pratika couldn't get bat on it, so two leg byes.

It's Jess Kerr from the other end, so watch out for the movement away from Smriti and into Pratika.

Shankar chips in from Navi Mumbai: The lower stands towards my right are a lot more filled than they were 30 minutes back. Not as much on the stands to my left

National anthems done.

Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana walk out to the middle.

New Zealand will be hoping to strike early.

Rosemary Mair has the new ball in hand. Will she be joined by a spinner from the other end or the in-swinging Jess Kerr?

Both India and New Zealand players are walking out as it is time for the national anthems.

Nitin Sharma, digging more stats!

He pings, "All the four top totals in an innings in women’s ODIs between India and New Zealand have come in 2022. New Zealand’s total of 280 for 7 in Auckland in 2022 remains the highest total in an innings. It came in the chase in reply to India’s total of 279, which is India’s highest total against New Zealand In a women’s ODI. Will we see this record being broken with India playing an extra batter today?"

2.4 overs 1/6. These were Pratika Rawal's bowling figures from the first match against Sri Lanka at Guwahati. Whether it is her or Harmanpreet Kaur herself who fill in as the sixth bowler remains to be seen.

- Shankar Narayan

Only two bowlers have taken six wickets in an ODI between India and New Zealand.

Jacqueline Lord took six wickets against the Shanta Rangaswamy-led Indian team in a women’s ODI played in Auckland in 1982. Jhulan Goswami is the other bowler to have taken six wickets in a women’s ODI between the two countries. Goswami had taken six wickets against the Suzie Bates-led New Zealand team in 2011.

- Nitin Sharma

Only six times a batter has scored a hundred in a women’s ODI between India and New Zealand. Smriti Mandhana has hit two ODI hundreds with her latest hundred against New Zealand coming in 2024. Suzie Bates has also hit two hundreds against India in an ODI. Mithali Raj and Amelia Kerr are the other two batters to have hit a hundred in an ODI between the two countries.

- Nitin Sharma

Since 1978, when the two teams met for the first time in Women’s ODI, India and New Zealand have faced 57 times in ODIs. The White Ferns have won 34 times while Indian team has won 22 times with one match finishing in a tie.

The tie happened during the 1997-98 women’s World Cup match at Indore, when the Pramila Bhatt led Indian team were bundled out for 176 in the last over with five balls remaining chasing the target of 177 runs.

- Nitin Sharma

India Women (Playing XI): Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur.

New Zealand Women (Playing XI): Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson.

Harmanpreet Kaur: Pitch is looking really good and it is a great opportunity to put up a good total on the board. Jemi is in for Amanjot. We have been playing good cricket but the result has not gone our way. We are getting starts but unfortunately we haven't made it big, today is a great opportunity to make it count for the team.

Sophie Devine: We are going to have a bowl first today. The surface won't change much and hopefully it can get better under lights, dew will also come in. We have been training exceptionally hard and a couple of extra sessions won't change much. This is the moment all cricketers want to be playing, pressure game, playing India in India.

Big change from India. Jemimah Rodrigues is back in the XI and out goes Amanjot Kaur for the crucial game vs New Zealand.

Shankar pings from Navi Mumbai, "The indications were true. Jemimah Rodrigues returns to the playing XI for Amanjot Kaur. A huge task in front of the batters to put up a defendable total for the bowlers under the lights. No change for New Zealand."

Sophie Devine gets the right call for New Zealand and she decides to bowl first vs India.

Going by early indications, it does look like Amanjot Kaur might miss out today. But we'll know whether that is the case at the toss soon.

- Shankar Narayan

The last time India faced New Zealand in a women’s ODI was in October last year. Chasing a target of 232 runs, India won the match by six wickets with Smriti Mandhana hitting a hundred to guide India to a series win. Earlier Deepti Sharma had taken three wickets during New Zealand innings. India would hope that both Mandhana and Sharma come handy today and guide India towards a win today.

- Nitin Sharma

India Women’s World Cup 2025 Semifinal Qualification Scenario Explained: READ HERE

Shankar: Still not a lot of crowd inside the venue. D.Y.Patil Stadium almost has a reputation of being the 12th member of the Indian side in T20Is played before. But both sides of the ground not as filled as you would expect.

Shankar pings: Interestingly, Amanjot Kaur is having a bowl with Radha Yadav and Arundhati Reddy. No sign of Renuka Singh Thakur or Deepti Sharma or Sneh Rana yet at the moment.

Further hints that India are heading back to playing 5 bowlers as Jemimah Rodrigues has a throwdown session with just over 30 minutes to go for the toss

– Shankar Narayan

Thursday’s India-New Zealand game in Navi Mumbai has been billed as a must-win fixture for Harmanpreet Kaur’s team after three successive defeats. But according to tournament rules, they will be in with a strong chance to make the semifinals even if the White Ferns prevail over the co-hosts.

The reason: a quirk in the playing conditions and, more pertinently, the itinerary of the tournament which was finalised without much thought given to the weather expected at this time of the year in Colombo.

READ FULL STORY

Richa Ghosh going through her wicketkeeping drills. Does look like a drill specifically for the spinners. while Smriti Mandhana is the only batter having a knock near the boundary.

– Shankar Narayan

India have erected a stump on one of the practice pitches for the last 5-10 minutes. Still no sign of any bowlers for a final warm-up.

- Shankar Narayan

India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur/Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur.

New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson.

Our man on the ground, Shankar Narayan, pings, "Another very hot day at Navi Mumbai. The crowds haven't yet started to come in. New Zealand have arrived at the ground. No sign of India yet."

New Zealand Women Squad: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing, Eden Carson, Lea Tahuhu, Hannah Rowe, Polly Inglis, Bella James

India Women Squad: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Uma Chetry

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the ICC Women's World Cup 2025, where Harmanpreet Kaur's India will lock horns with Sophie Devine's New Zealand in the group game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. After three consecutive losses, India are in a must-win situation to keep their semifinal fate in their own hands.

Stay tuned as we build up this game and bring all the live updates straight from the venue.