Can India’s Sixth Bowler Change Their World Cup Fate Against England?

The Indian women’s cricket team faces a critical juncture in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 as they prepare to take on England at Holkar Stadium, Indore, on October 19. Reeling from consecutive three-wicket defeats to South Africa and Australia in Visakhapatnam, the Women in Blue are under pressure to secure at least two wins from their remaining three matches to keep their semifinal hopes alive. With their trusted five-bowler strategy—comprising five specialist batters, a wicketkeeper, and five bowlers, including three all-rounders—exposed as inadequate, India must reconsider their approach to restore balance and potency.

The limitations of the five-bowler template were evident against South Africa, where the lack of variety allowed a comfortable chase of 251. Persisting with the same strategy against Australia proved disastrous, as the defending champions chased down a daunting 331, the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history. The absence of a specialist bowler, notably pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, who was benched in favor of all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, left India’s attack one-dimensional. Young seamer Kranti Gaud has performed admirably but lacks the support needed to challenge top-tier batting line-ups. Introducing Renuka, left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, or pacer Arundhati Reddy could provide the necessary variety and relieve pressure on the bowling unit.

Compounding India’s challenges is the faltering form of their top-order batters. Despite strong starts from openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, who scored fluent fifties against Australia, the middle order, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, has struggled to convert promising positions. A dramatic collapse of six wickets for 36 runs against Australia underscored this fragility, a recurring issue also seen in earlier matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, where all-rounders salvaged the situation. Against four-time champions England, India’s core batters must deliver to allow the tactical flexibility of a sixth bowler, a critical element in modern white-ball cricket.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup: England Shines as Bangladesh Crumbles to 178

Holkar Stadium’s batter-friendly conditions, evidenced by high-scoring encounters in the tournament, promise another run-heavy contest. England, unbeaten alongside Australia, hold a stronger position but face their own challenges. Their batting has been inconsistent, with collapses to 79 for 7 against Pakistan (saved by rain) and 78 for 5 against Bangladesh. However, their disciplined bowling unit, led by Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell—both expected to return after missing the Pakistan game due to illness—has consistently bailed them out. Needing just one more win to secure a semifinal berth, England remain formidable.

The match, starting at 3:00 PM IST and broadcast on Star Sports Network with streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, is a make-or-break moment for India. A tactical overhaul, potentially including a sixth bowler and a revitalized batting effort, is essential to keep their World Cup dreams alive on home soil.

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

England Squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

Also Read: Pakistan Aim to Ruin New Zealand’s World Cup Dream in Rain-Hit Showdown