Under the glittering floodlights of the Holkar Stadium in Indore, heartbreak unfolded for the Indian women’s team as they fell agonizingly short by just four runs against England on October 19, 2025. It marked India’s third successive defeat in the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, a campaign that started brightly but is now teetering on the edge.
As vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana faced the media in a post-match press conference; her words mirrored the emotion in the dressing room, one laced with accountability, reflection, and quiet determination to make amends in the must-win clashes ahead.
India, chasing 289, were well-poised to seal their biggest-ever ODI run chase before the game slipped dramatically in the final overs. A fluent 88 from Mandhana and a brisk 70 from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had given the hosts a commanding position. The pair’s 100-plus stand for the third wicket revived India after early jolts, keeping them ahead of the required rate.
However, the dismissal of Harmanpreet in the 31st over shifted momentum, and soon after, Mandhana’s dismissal in the 42nd over ignited an all-too-familiar collapse. Despite Deepti Sharma’s fighting fifty and cameos from Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana, India fell just short at 284/8, handing England their passage into the semi-finals.
Earlier in the day, after England opted to bat first, Heather Knight’s majestic 109 off 91 balls, supported by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 38 and Amy Jones’ 56, steered them to a competitive 288/8. India’s spinners Deepti Sharma (4/51) and Shree Charani (2/68) ensured England were kept in check during the final stretch, conceding only 36 runs in the last five overs. But those late breakthroughs proved insufficient against the experience and composure of England’s seasoned campaigners.
As India’s vice-captain took the podium, her tone was candid yet composed. “Yeah, for sure, I mean, it collapsed, everyone saw that. I think everyone’s shot selections at that time, we could have done better,” she admitted when asked about India’s late-innings implosion. “Especially, it started from me, so I will take it on myself that the shot selection should have been better. We just needed six per over. Maybe we should have taken the game deeper. So yeah, I mean, I’ll take it from myself because the collapse started from me.”
The left-hander’s accountability was as crisp as her timing on the pitch. Smriti, now India’s leading run-scorer and the fourth-most prolific batter of the tournament with 222 runs at an average of 44.40, acknowledged her missed opportunity.
“Yeah, I mean, for sure, I thought I could take her (Linsey Smith) on. I was trying to aim more over covers. I mistimed that shot. Maybe the shot wasn’t needed at that time. I just needed to be more patient because throughout the innings, I was trying to tell myself to be patient and not play aerial shots. But maybe the emotions took over for that one, which never helps in cricket,” she reflected.
Despite the setback, Mandhana’s words carried maturity and perspective beyond the immediate pain of defeat. “In cricket, nothing comes easy. The next match would be the virtual quarterfinal in terms of getting into the top four. But yeah, you don’t play cricket to have easy days,” she said, underscoring the resilience within the squad. “We know where we went wrong, and it’s about how we take those bad days and move on to get the best against New Zealand.”
With four points from five games, India currently sit fourth on the points table, their semi-final hopes hanging delicately on their next two matches, against New Zealand on October 23 and Bangladesh on October 26, both at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. To stay alive in the competition, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will need not just victories, but convincing ones to outpace New Zealand on net run rate.
As Smriti Mandhana left the press room, her expressions and words left an impression of quiet determination, a reminder that while India’s path has narrowed, their spirit has not dimmed. The next two games could yet turn their campaign around, and if their vice-captain’s grit is any sign, India’s story in this World Cup may still be far from over.
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