Even with a victory against Bangladesh, India cannot improve their current position as they can only reach a maximum of eight points. England, positioned third with nine points, has the potential to extend their tally to 11 points if they defeat New Zealand on Sunday.
India secured their semifinal spot with a commanding victory over New Zealand in a rain-affected match. The team posted an impressive 340/3 in 49 overs, highlighted by centuries from openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal.
Mandhana scored 105 runs off 95 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes, while Rawal contributed 122 from 134 balls with 13 fours and two sixes. Jemimah Rodrigues added momentum with an unbeaten 76 at number three.
The Indian bowling attack, led by Renuka Singh Thakur’s early wickets, restricted New Zealand to 271/8 in 44 overs as they chased a revised target of 325. The scoreboard pressure clearly impacted the White Ferns’ performance.
Weather forecasts predict moderate rain or thunderstorm for Sunday’s match. India will look to gain additional experience bowling with dew if they field in the second innings.
The team addressed several concerns in their previous match, particularly regarding their batters’ ability to convert starts into substantial scores and maintain a good scoring rate. However, Rawal’s innings included 63 dot balls, which could be a concern in tighter matches.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s form remains a focus area, with her 70 against England in Indore being her only notable performance in the tournament so far. The match against Bangladesh provides an opportunity for her to build momentum before the semifinals.
Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh’s role in the lower order remains crucial, though she didn’t bat in the final overs against New Zealand as expected. She suffered a finger injury while keeping wickets and was replaced by Uma Chetry.
Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign concluded after they fell short by nine runs in their final over against Sri Lanka at DY Patil Stadium. Despite strong performances from Shorna Akter (3/27), captain Nigar Sultana (77), and Sharmin Akhter (64 not out), they will finish last in the tournament as Pakistan moved ahead with three washouts.
The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00pm IST at DY Patil Stadium.