Amid high stakes and mounting pressure, India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, scripted a defining chapter in their ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding 53-run victory over New Zealand at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on 23rd October 2025.
The win sealed India’s passage into the semi-finals, joining Australia, South Africa, and England, with a game still to spare in the league stage. This win was not just about survival; it was a night of milestones, history-making partnerships, and record-breaking performances that stamped India’s resurgence in emphatic fashion.
After enduring three consecutive defeats, the Women in Blue displayed their finest batting performance of the tournament, rewriting multiple record books. Twin tons from Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, complemented by Jemimah Rodrigues’ late fireworks, ensured India posted their highest-ever total in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, 340/3 in 49 overs, in a rain-curtailed first innings.
In reply, New Zealand, led by Sophie Devine, showed commendable fight through Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze’s half-centuries, but eventually fell short at 271/8 in 44 overs. The result reflected not only India’s dominance but also the historical nature of the contest, one that showcased the evolution of women’s cricket in front of a record group-stage attendance for any ICC Women’s event.
India’s Top-Order Symphony: A Record Avalanche
Opting to bowl first in humid conditions, Sophie Devine’s decision backfired spectacularly as India’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, produced one of the most memorable partnerships in women’s ODI history. The duo’s calculated yet enterprising approach yielded a record 212-run opening stand, the highest for India in ICC Women’s ODI World Cup history, and the 4th-highest ever in ODI World Cups.
Rawal reached her milestone first, becoming the fastest Indian and joint fastest (in 23 innings) to complete 1,000 ODI runs, a testament to her meteoric rise. Her driving fluency and on-side precision dismantled the Kiwi attack, particularly against Lea Tahuhu, who coincidentally marked her 200th international appearance in this fixture. Mandhana, on the other hand, was at her elegant best, notching up her 14th career century and equaling the record for joint most centuries in a calendar year (5) and international hundreds overall (17).
Their phenomenal partnership also saw them register the joint-most century stands (7) as an Indian pair, equaling the tally set by Mithali Raj and Poonam Raut, but in just 23 innings compared to 34. They now also hold the joint 3rd most century partnerships (7) in ODIs overall. Moreover, Mandhana and Rawal became the only Indian openers to post two 150-plus partnerships in the same World Cup edition, joining an elite group of just two other pairs in the competition’s history.
The openers’ twin centuries etched their names alongside legendary duos Lynne Thomas and Enid Bakewell (1973) and Lindsay Reeler and Ruth Buckstein (1988), as the third pair to score twin centuries in a Women’s ODI World Cup innings.
Middle-Order Spark and Bowling Collective Secure the Win
Jemimah Rodrigues’ promotion to number three proved a tactical masterstroke. Her unbeaten 76 off 55 balls injected flair into the backend of India’s innings, adding a quickfire 76-run stand with Pratika Rawal before the latter departed for a brilliant 122. Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a brief but valuable cameo, as India closed their innings at 340/3, a statement total in a must-win game.
New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Amelia Kerr (1/69), Suzie Bates (1/40), and Rosemary Mair (1/52), found some breakthroughs but struggled to contain the Indian onslaught. Despite the rain reducing the match to a 44-over chase (target 325), New Zealand’s innings lacked the tempo required to keep up.
Brooke Halliday stood tall with a fighting 81 off 84 balls, supported by Isabella Gaze’s unbeaten 65 off 51 balls, as New Zealand recorded their highest-ever total in a World Cup run chase (271/8). India’s bowling unit, however, maintained composure under pressure, with Renuka Singh (2/25) and Kranti Gaud (2/48) leading a balanced attack. Notably, Renuka Singh broke new ground, becoming the fastest Indian pacer to claim 100 international wickets, surpassing Jhulan Goswami’s long-standing record. Every bowler, including part-timer Pratika Rawal (1/19), chipped in to complete an all-round team performance.
Milestones That Defined Match 24
Pratika Rawal: Fastest Indian and joint fastest (23 innings) to 1,000 ODI runs; 3rd player in Women’s World Cups to score a hundred, take a wicket, and a catch in a single match.
Smriti Mandhana & Pratika Rawal: Record 212-run stand, India’s highest in Women’s World Cup history, and highest opening partnership (212) in the 2025 edition.
India’s total of 340/3: Highest ever for India in ICC Women’s ODI World Cups; 2nd highest total against New Zealand in women’s ODIs (after England’s 347/5 in 2021).
Mandhana’s records: Joint most international hundreds (17) and joint most hundreds in a calendar year (5).
Opening pair milestones: Joint 3rd most century stands (7) in ODIs overall; joint most 100+ stands for an Indian pair (7); only Indian duo with two 150+ stands in one World Cup edition.
Historic Twin Tons: Only the third occurrence in Women’s World Cup history where both openers scored centuries.
Renuka Singh: Fastest Indian pacer to 100 international wickets.
New Zealand: 271/8, their highest total while chasing in Women’s World Cups.
Attendance: Highest recorded crowd for a group-stage match in any Women’s ICC event.
Lea Tahuhu: Featured in her 200th international appearance for New Zealand.
A Defining Night for India’s Campaign
The 53-run victory was symbolic of India’s resolve, a turnaround from near elimination to sealing the final semi-final berth with dominance and flair. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s strategic calls, Mandhana and Rawal’s record-shattering partnership, and a disciplined bowling effort collectively underscored India’s resilience. As the four semi-finalists, Australia, South Africa, England, and India, were locked in, the Women in Blue carried momentum, belief, and a growing sense of destiny towards the knockout phase.
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