India Meets Rain as a Major Obstacle in the Women’s World Cup
The highly anticipated Women’s World Cup clash between India and Bangladesh ended with no result due to persistent rain at DY Patil Stadium on October 26, 2025. The washout was unfortunate for India, who intended to use the match as a strategic exercise ahead of the knockout stages. India had entered this game after finally hitting top gear against New Zealand, a match that restored confidence after three uneven performances earlier in the tournament.
India’s Plans Before Knockouts
Having already secured a semi-final spot, India was keen to solidify their strategies and combinations against Bangladesh, seeking momentum heading into the next round. After a successful experiment against New Zealand, where they excelled with a five-bowler setup, India aimed to further test these changes. The team also wanted more time in the middle for the middle order, which had not been tested recently because India batted first in most matches and chased only once, a four-run loss to England.
During their brief stint on the field, India had begun strongly. Chasing 126, they were at 57 without loss, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, before the weather intervened. India’s preferred opening pair, Mandhana and Rawal, had already produced 1557 partnership runs in 20 innings that year, the second-highest tally by any ODI pair in a single calendar year.
The match will be played in Navi Mumbai, the venue for both India’s semi-final and the final.
Vital Roles in India and Bangladesh
India’s Renuka Singh was in the spotlight, showcasing aggression and efficiency in her latest outings, notably stymying New Zealand’s top order earlier in the tournament. She conceded no boundaries in the first six overs of that match and finished with figures of 2 for 25, removing Georgia Plimmer and Sophie Devine with sharp in-duckers. Meanwhile, Bangladesh was counting on the flair of their leg spinners Rabeya Khan and Shorna Akter to disrupt India’s batting plans, given their disciplined performances against Sri Lanka; Rabeya removed Chamari Athapaththu, and Shorna dismissed Hasini Perera and Nilakshika Silva.
Expected Line-ups and Minor Injury Concerns
Despite a minor injury scare with Richa Ghosh, India expected to maintain their winning combination. Ghosh, who sustained a hand injury in a previous game, was deemed fit as India’s team management assessed ongoing fitness queries, including Pratika Rawal’s ankle concern, as highlighted in ESPNcricinfo.
India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani.
Bangladesh: Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nishita Akter, Marufa Akter. Sharmin Akhter walked off with cramps during Bangladesh’s chase against Sri Lanka but returned to bat in the final over.
Weather Plays a Crucial Role
The unpredictability of the weather around Navi Mumbai added another layer of complexity as heavy rain continued to be a threat, potentially affecting pitch conditions and strategies in upcoming games. The pitch had remained covered since the previous day, and rain was forecast for Sunday evening. The surface generally aids batting, while fast bowlers have tended to get early movement. The weather threat underscores the uncertainties teams face in outdoor sport. With the knockouts fast approaching, India will have to ensure every player is match-ready, as conditions could vary significantly.
The abandonment underscores the uncertainties teams face in outdoor sports like cricket. With the knockouts fast approaching, India will have to ensure every player is match-ready, as conditions could vary significantly.
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