Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM IST (15:00 local)
Venue: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
Match: 24th Match, ICC Women’s World Cup 2025
Format: 50-over match (Day/Night)
The Big Picture
This is not just another league match. With Australia, England, and South Africa already through to the semifinals, India and New Zealand are fighting for the last spot in a virtual quarter-final. Both teams have four points each after playing six matches, but India sits fourth with a positive net run rate while New Zealand is fifth with a negative net run rate.
For India, a win guarantees semifinal qualification. For New Zealand, anything less than a victory could end their campaign. The pressure is real, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Team Form
India started strongly with wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan but then lost three straight matches to South Africa, Australia, and England. Their inconsistent middle-order batting and death bowling have been exposed in tight finishes. Stars like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma have performed well individually, but the team hasn’t clicked as a unit.
New Zealand has had a frustrating tournament with just one win, two losses, and two washouts due to rain. Captain Sophie Devine scored a century against Australia but couldn’t prevent defeat. The team needs to find momentum quickly, and the weather has not been kind to them.
Likely Playing XIs
India Women (Likely XI)
Source: ESPNcricinfo match preview
India’s coach Amol Muzumdar said the decision on Jemimah Rodrigues’ inclusion will be made on match day. India dropped her against England to play an extra bowler. Here’s their likely lineup:
- Smriti Mandhana
- Pratika Rawal
- Harleen Deol
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper)
- Deepti Sharma
- Sneh Rana
- Arundhati Reddy
- Radha Yadav
- Renuka Singh
- Kranti Gaud OR Jemimah Rodrigues
Note: The final XI depends on whether India goes with five bowlers or brings Jemimah back for batting depth.
New Zealand Women (Likely XI)
Source: ESPNcricinfo match preview
New Zealand brought back veteran pacer Lea Tahuhu for their last match against Pakistan and are likely to stick with the same team:
- Suzie Bates
- Georgia Plimmer
- Amelia Kerr
- Sophie Devine (c)
- Brooke Halliday
- Maddy Green
- Isabella Gaze (wicketkeeper)
- Jess Kerr
- Rosemary Mair
- Eden Carson
- Lea Tahuhu
Players to Watch
| India | Role | Why Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | Opening Batter | In terrific form this tournament, scored 5,000 ODI runs recently |
| Deepti Sharma | Allrounder | Leading wicket-taker for India with 13 wickets, became second Indian to take 150 ODI wickets |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Captain/Batter | Experienced leader, needs to guide team through pressure |
| Renuka Singh | Fast Bowler | Key with the new ball, creates early breakthroughs |
| New Zealand | Role | Why Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Sophie Devine | Captain/Allrounder | Hit a century vs Australia, team’s main hope |
| Amelia Kerr | Allrounder | Recently took 200th international wicket, crucial with bat and ball |
| Suzie Bates | Opening Batter | First woman to play 350 international matches, experienced campaigner |
| Lea Tahuhu | Fast Bowler | Playing 100th ODI, brings experience and pace |
Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch: The Dr. DY Patil Stadium pitch offers true bounce and is good for batting. Fast bowlers may get some early movement, but spinners will play a bigger role as the match goes on. Teams batting first have usually posted good scores here.
Weather: This is a big concern. Heavy thunderstorms are expected with 75% chance of rain. Temperatures will range between 27°C and 36°C. While the 3:00 PM start should be okay, rain is likely to intensify by 5:00 PM, which could disrupt the match. A washout would actually help India since they have a better record.
Sources: Outlook India, India TV, IMD weather forecast
Head-to-Head
In their last ODI meeting in October 2024, India chased down New Zealand’s 232 with six wickets and 34 balls to spare at Ahmedabad. In World Cup history, both teams have had memorable encounters. India thrashed New Zealand by 186 runs in the 2017 World Cup at Derby, with Mithali Raj scoring a century. However, India has their poorest win-loss ratio against New Zealand among all teams in ODI World Cups.
What to Expect
Expect a tense, high-pressure match where every run and wicket matters. India will want to play aggressively and finish the match early before rain arrives. New Zealand needs early wickets to put pressure on India’s fragile middle order. If the match happens without rain interruption, the team that handles pressure better will win.
Spin bowling will be crucial on this pitch, giving India a slight advantage with Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav. New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr will need to counter India’s spinners effectively.
Prediction
Playing at home with a stronger spin attack and better recent form against New Zealand, India are slight favorites. However, New Zealand has nothing to lose and will come out fighting. If rain stays away, expect a close match with India having a 55-45 edge. But with weather being unpredictable, this could easily become a DLS-affected thriller.
The winner takes a giant step toward the semifinals. The loser faces an uphill battle. Simple as that.