India’s campaign in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 suffered a crushing setback on Sunday, October 19, as they fell agonizingly short against England, losing by just four runs in a tense thriller.
Batting first, England posted a competitive 288/8, anchored by a superb 109 off 91 balls from skipper Heather Knight. India came close in their chase but ultimately finished at 284/6, marking their third straight defeat in the tournament following losses to South Africa and Australia.
India appeared to be cruising toward victory — needing just 62 runs off the final 10 overs with seven wickets in hand — before the tide turned dramatically. The dismissal of Smriti Mandhana, who mistimed an aggressive shot off Linsey Smith, triggered a collapse. Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma soon followed, and with mounting scoreboard pressure, India’s chase unraveled.
Deepti Sharma, after reaching her half-century, fell attempting a slog sweep off Sophie Ecclestone, only to find the fielder perfectly placed at deep mid-wicket. Reckless shot selection in the closing overs proved costly as England held their nerve in the field.
Earlier, England’s openers gave a solid platform with 73 runs for the first wicket, followed by a crucial 113-run stand between Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt. Though England looked poised to cross 300, Knight’s run-out curtailed their momentum, as India bowled tightly to concede just 74 runs in the final 10 overs. Deepti Sharma was India’s standout bowler with four wickets.
Reflecting on the win, Knight said, “We probably needed 300, but we did well to pull things back. I’m very happy to have contributed with a match-winning hundred after a few quiet games.”
The narrow defeat sparked emotional reactions from fans, many drawing parallels with India’s 2017 World Cup heartbreak at Lord’s, where they also lost a close final to England.
Visibly dejected, captain Harmanpreet Kaur said, “Not sure how we lost this game. We had it in the bag. When the last five overs slip away from you, it’s heartbreaking. This is the third straight game we’ve lost after coming so close.”
With Australia, England, and South Africa already securing semifinal spots, India’s upcoming match against New Zealand has now become a must-win clash — a virtual knockout to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
