India Women and New Zealand Women will face off in their final warm-up clash on September 27 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru. Both sides are eager to fine-tune combinations and regain momentum, especially after falling short in their first warm-up fixture. With the World Cup just days away, this match offers a vital opportunity for teams to test batting depth and bowling options under competitive conditions.
India Women, playing at home, will look to bounce back from a heavy defeat to England where only Jemimah Rodrigues and Uma Chetry made notable scores. The spotlight will be on Smriti Mandhana’s tremendous batting form, and the middle order featuring Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma, all of whom can turn the game with aggressive hitting. India’s bowling, led by Renuka Singh Thakur and complemented by spinners like Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana, will aim for a more cohesive show against a strong Kiwi top order.
New Zealand Women’s warm-up opener was disrupted by rain, but Izzy Gaze’s impressive century and the team’s ability to put up 273 runs showed their batting strength. At a venue where recent matches have seen high scores, New Zealand’s experienced campaigners like Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday will look to make the most of favorable pitch conditions.
Squads:
India Women’s Cricket Team
Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Vrinda Dinesh, Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Nandini Kashyap, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh Thakur, Sree Charani
New Zealand Women’s Cricket Team
Georgia Plimmer, Maddy Green, Amelia Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Flora Devonshire, Jess Kerr, Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Bella James, Izzy Gaze, Polly Inglis, Bree Illing, Eden Carson, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair
Players to watch out:
Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues has played 51 Women’s ODI matches, scored 1,457 runs at an average of 32.38, with a strike rate of 87.88. She has recorded 7 half-centuries and 2 centuries in ODIs, with the highest score of 123. Her recent form in 2025 shows improvement with several strong innings, including a 66-run stand against England in the warm-up game. Overall, she remains a key batter for India in the ODI format with steady contributions and improving consistency.
Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma has featured in 112 Women’s ODIs, scoring 2524 runs at an average of 37.67. Some key highlights include the highest score of 188 and 1 century alongside 15 half-centuries. As a bowler, she has taken 140 wickets at an impressive average of 28.41 and a strike rate of 39.8. Deepti is a vital all-rounder for India with steady contributions with both bat and ball, known for her calmness under pressure and ability to perform in crunch moments.
Amelia Kerr
Amelia Kerr has played 77 Women’s ODIs, scoring 2,167 runs at an impressive average of 42.49 with a strike rate of 83. She has registered 4 centuries and 10 half-centuries, with the highest score of 232 not out. With the ball, Kerr has taken 99 wickets in ODIs with an average of 29.75 and a strike rate of 38.90, bowling right-arm leg spin. She is a top all-rounder for New Zealand, consistently impactful with both bat and ball. Kerr is currently ranked among the top 5 all-rounders in Women’s ODIs globally.
Sophie Devine
Sophie Devine has played 152 Women’s ODIs, scoring 3,990 runs at an average of 31.67 with 8 centuries and 16 fifties. She is known for her power hitting, striking at 85.00, including 70 sixes in her career. As a right-arm medium pace bowler, Devine has taken 107 wickets with an average of 35.75. A leading all-rounder and former captain for New Zealand, her batting and bowling contributions have made her one of the most influential players.
Pitch:
The pitch at BCCI Centre of Excellence 1 in Bengaluru is generally known for being well-maintained and balanced, offering fair assistance to both batters and bowlers. The surface tends to be true with moderate pace and bounce, which allows stroke-making but still gives seamers some early movement and spinners can come into play later in the game.
Weather:
The weather in Bengaluru is expected to be cloudy and breezy conditions throughout the day. There’s little sign of significant rainfall, but the sky will remain overcast, and the winds may pick up. Such weather can keep humidity levels moderate and may favor seamers a touch early on.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates
Match Details:
Date – September 27, 2025
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – BCCI Centre of Excellence 1, Bengaluru
Broadcast – TBC
Loves all things female cricket