Can India still qualify for Women’s World Cup semi-final after three consecutive defeats?
The question has become critical after England handed India another setback in Chennai. Despite strong efforts from Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma, India fell short in a 289-run chase, putting their knockout hopes in serious jeopardy.
With back-to-back defeats to South Africa, Australia and now England, India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign is hanging by a thread. Their final two matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh are now virtual knockouts.
India began their Women’s World Cup 2025 journey in style with a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka. An all-round show from Deepti Sharma and impressive works from the spinners dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle order to seal a 59-run victory (DLS method). This early statement set the tone for India’s campaign, with both bat and ball firing in sync.
The high-voltage clash against Pakistan saw India at their clinical best. After making a competitive 247 with the bat led by starts from most of the top eight batters, including a vital 20-ball 35 not out from Richa Ghosh, India bowled Pakistan out for 159 to script an 88-run win. Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma led the wickets chart with three wickets apiece. This victory not only boosted their net run rate (NRR) but also gave the team huge confidence heading into tougher fixtures.
In what looked like a potential setback, India were reeling at 102 for 6 before Richa Ghosh produced a spectacular rescue act. Her 94 off 89 balls — featuring 11 fours and 4 sixes — powered India to 251 after an 88-run stand with Sneh Rana. South Africa’s chase never got going, collapsing under scoreboard pressure to 81/5. Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon waged a strong partnership to bring the Proteas back before the former plundered big hits in the final few overs to help South Africa to a win. Can India still qualify to the semis with this win? Yes,they can, despite the setback, but the face the mighty Aussies next.
India posted 330, their highest-ever World Cup total, but the bowling attack failed to contain Australia. Mandhana and Rawal set the tone with a 155-run opening stand, yet defensive bowling in the death overs allowed Australia to pull off the highest successful chase in Women’s ODI history.
India were handed a crushing blow in their Women’s World Cup campaign as England defended 288 to seal a pivotal win. Heather Knight’s masterful 109 and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s support powered England to 288/8, leaving India with their highest-ever chase in World Cup history.
Despite Smriti Mandhana (88) and Deepti Sharma (50), India fell agonisingly short in the final overs. With Jemimah Rodrigues dropped for an extra pacer, the batting felt thin as India could not find the finishing kick, losing by narrow margins yet again.
This defeat has now intensified the big question: Can India still qualify for Women’s World Cup semi-final?
Yes, India can still qualify, but the path is now razor-thin.
Yes, but they need to beat New Zealand and Bangladesh without a doubt to seal qualification. A loss to New Zealand could leave them hanging behind them if they beat England, even if India beat Bangladesh.
| Opponent | Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Women | 24th Match | October 23 | Kolkata |
| Bangladesh Women | 28th Match | October 26 | Delhi |
India’s next clash against New Zealand Women and it’s a big one. They cannot afford a loss as they will then be in a must-win game against Bangladesh. A win there would be great, and should help India’s semi-final case, although they will still need to beat Bangladesh. Can India qualify mathematically if they lose that one too? Not quite, because they will then need to definitely win against Bangladesh and hope for other results and NRR to go their way.
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Not yet. They remain in contention, but two results still matter. Have India Women qualified? — No, but they now control their destiny.
The England win has turned their campaign around, but qualification may come down to the New Zealand fixture, which is shaping into a virtual quarter-final if they don’t want to take it to the very last game.
Yes, India can still qualify for the Women’s World Cup semi-final, but their margin is now extremely narrow. After the defeat to England, India must win both of their remaining matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh to stay in the top-four race.
No, India have not qualified yet. They remain on four points and are currently in a vulnerable position. Their qualification will fully depend on the results against New Zealand and Bangladesh, and potentially other teams’ results.
India must win both of their remaining matches. A single win may not be enough if New Zealand or South Africa gain points. They must also protect their Net Run Rate (NRR), which could become the deciding factor in a tie on points.
A total of four teams will qualify for the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-finals based on points and Net Run Rate.
If two or more teams are tied on points, Net Run Rate (NRR) will decide which team advances to the semi-finals. This makes heavy defeats extremely risky for India at this stage.
Australia and South Africa are in strong qualifying positions. India, England, and New Zealand are locked in a fierce battle for the remaining semi-final spots. Can India still qualify for the Women’s World Cup semi-final? Yes, but only if they avoid further slip-ups.
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