Here’s how India can qualify for the semi-final after their loss to Australia in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup
The 13th edition of ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 has reached an exciting stage, with IndiaThe path to the semi-finals hangs in the balance after two consecutive defeats. Co-hosted by India And Sri LankaThe tournament features eight top-ranked teams competing in a round-robin format, where each team plays seven matches. The top four in the points table will qualify for the semi-finals based on their points total and Net Run Rate (NRR).
Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: India’s campaign so far and current situation
Team India started their campaign with a bang, defeating Sri Lanka in Guwahati by 59 runs (DLS) and dominating Pakistan in Colombo with an 88-point victory. However, momentum has slowed as South Africa edged them by three wickets in Vizag, followed by a narrow defeat against Australia where, despite scoring 330 runs, India again failed by three wickets. These back-to-back defeats now put India in a must-win situation to enter the final phase of the league stage.
India are currently third on the points table but will face tough matches against England, New ZealandAnd Bangladesh. The Women in Blue need at least two wins from these three matches to remain in contention for a place in the semi-finals. With a decent NRR cushion thanks to previous high-margin wins, India remains in the race, provided they maintain consistency and deliver convincing wins in the upcoming matches.
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Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Qualification scenarios and what should India do next?
With a tight seeding, the qualification permutations for India in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 revolve entirely around winning momentum and net run rate (NRR) management. In this format, each victory earns two points, and the teams on points are separated by their NRR. The top four teams after the 28 group matches will advance to the semi-finals.
Current status and upcoming schedules
India are currently at a crucial juncture after playing four matches.
| Metric | Detail |
| Current ranking | 3rd place on the points table |
| Matches played | 4 |
| Victories/Defeats | 2 wins, 2 losses |
| Points | 4 |
| Current RNR | Positive |
| Remaining matches | 3 |
| Upcoming matches | England (October 19, Indore), New Zealand (October 23, Navi Mumbai), Bangladesh (October 26, Navi Mumbai) |
Qualifying scenarios
The path to the semi-finals is difficult but clear, requiring a strong finish from the hosts.
| Scenario | Required victories | Total points | Probability |
| Unmissable itinerary | 3 of 3 | 10 points | Guaranteed place in the semi-finals regardless of the other results. |
| Probable route | 2 of 3 | 8 points | Very likely to qualify, but the NRR will be vital, especially if South Africa or New Zealand also reach 8 points. Win against England and New Zealand (stronger teams) would be ideal. |
| Risk route | 1 of 3 | 6 points | Very difficult. Qualification would heavily depend on other teams’ defeats and Indian NRR’s superiority over rivals like South Africa and New Zealand. |
What India should do next
Given that Australia and England are heavy favorites for the top two spots, the race for the remaining two semi-final spots is a close battle between India, South Africa and New Zealand. India needs to focus more on execution in all three departments.
- Prioritize wins: The immediate aim is to secure at least two more wins, ideally starting with the crucial match against England, followed by the high-stakes clash against New Zealand. These two matches have a direct impact on the points total of the main qualifying rivals.
- Strengthen the bowling unit: Despite high scores, Indian bowling struggled in both defeats, notably conceding the most successful chase in women’s ODI history against Australia. The bowling depth needs to be improved urgently, with emphasis on tighter lines, disciplined lengths and run rate control in the middle overs to defend competitive totals.
- Maintain the NRR advantage: India currently holds a significant positive NRR advantage (+0.682) over its closest rivals South Africa (−0.888) and New Zealand (−0.245). They should aim for wins by a large margin (both batting and chasing) to increase that cushion, providing critical insurance if they finish tied on points with another team. The match against Bangladesh provides a great opportunity to significantly strengthen the NRR.
Semi-final outlook
If India manages to qualify, the second semi-final is scheduled in Navi Mumbai on October 30. The venues for the first semi-final (October 29) and the final (November 2) will be Guwahati and Navi Mumbai respectively, unless Pakistan qualify, in which case their knockout matches would be moved to the neutral venue Colombo. Despite back-to-back defeats, India, playing on home soil, still have the firepower to make a successful comeback and reach the final, potentially in front of a packed home crowd.
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This article was first published on WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
