India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has taken full responsibility for India’s heartbreaking four-run defeat against England Women in their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 clash at Indore.
India were cruising at 232 for 3, needing just 57 runs off 57 balls with seven wickets in hand, when Mandhana fell for a well-made 88 off 94 balls, sparking a dramatic batting collapse. From that point, India stumbled to 262 for 6 by the 47th over and couldn’t chase down England’s total of 289, despite strong bowling and solid partnerships earlier in the game.
“We could have shown better shot selection — and it started from me,” Mandhana admitted after the match. “We only needed six runs per over; maybe we should have taken it deeper. I take responsibility because the collapse began with my dismissal.”
Mandhana attempted an inside-out shot off Linsey Smith, mistiming it straight to long-off. Reflecting on that moment, she said, “The emotions took over. I should have been more patient, but I thought I could take her on. Sometimes in cricket, that one emotional shot can cost you the match.”
After Mandhana’s wicket, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma also fell trying to accelerate, leaving India short of the target despite promising starts from Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur.
Tough Call to Drop Jemimah Rodrigues
India made one significant change for the match, leaving out Jemimah Rodrigues to bring in Renuka Singh, strengthening their bowling attack. While the decision raised eyebrows after the loss, Mandhana defended the move.
“We wanted an extra bowling option because five bowlers on flat tracks like Indore can be risky,” Mandhana explained. “It was tough to drop Jemi, but sometimes you have to make those calls for team balance. This combination might change depending on pitch and conditions.”
Renuka justified her selection with a tidy spell, conceding just 37 runs in eight overs. Meanwhile, Deepti Sharma shone again with figures of 4 for 51, reaching the milestone of 150 ODI wickets, only the second Indian woman after Jhulan Goswami to do so.
Smriti Mandhana Praises Deepti Sharma’s All-Round Brilliance
“Deepti has been incredible for us over the years. Her ability to read the game and contribute with both bat and ball is unmatched,” Mandhana said.
Despite the narrow loss, India remain optimistic about bouncing back in their upcoming matches. “We’ll learn from this. I just need to keep my emotions in check next time,” Mandhana concluded with a smile.
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