The Indian women’s cricket team was hit with a 5% match fee fine by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday for maintaining a slow over-rate during their high-octane Women’s ODI World Cup match against Australia. The penalty follows a dramatic three-wicket loss on Sunday in Visakhapatnam, where Australia executed a record-breaking chase of 331/7, the highest successful pursuit in the tournament’s history. The sanction, imposed by match referee Michell Periera, comes as India gears up for a must-win encounter against England on October 19 at Indore’s Holkar Stadium.

The ICC statement detailed that India fell one over short of the required rate, even after accounting for time allowances, triggering the penalty under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This rule mandates a 5% fine per over shortfall, reflecting the ICC’s emphasis on maintaining timely play in limited-overs cricket.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur promptly pleaded guilty to the offence, accepting the sanction without the need for a formal hearing, demonstrating the team’s commitment to accountability amid a critical phase of the 2025 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The charges were leveled by on-field umpires Sue Redfern and Nimali Perera, third umpire Kim Cotton, and fourth umpire Jacqueline Williams, who noted the over-rate violation during the high-scoring contest. India’s formidable total of 330/7, driven by centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, was outdone by Australia’s Alyssa Healy, whose 150 steered her side to victory with six balls to spare. The defeat dropped India to fifth in the group standings, amplifying the stakes for their upcoming match against England, where a win is vital to secure a semifinal berth.

Also Read: Shubman Gill Counts on Kohli and Rohit to Deliver Big in Australia ODI Series

This marks the second over-rate penalty for India this year, following a 10% fine in their ODI series decider against Australia in September. The Visakhapatnam loss, coupled with the fine, has sparked discussions among fans and analysts about tactical adjustments needed to balance aggressive fielding with timely bowling. As the team regroups under Kaur’s leadership, the focus shifts to delivering a disciplined performance against England to keep their World Cup title aspirations alive in a fiercely competitive tournament.

Also Read: Mandhana’s Historic Knock and Rawal’s Debut Brilliance Set 330-Run Challenge for Australia