In the high-stakes arena of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, where every run and wicket can swing the momentum of a tournament, 
India’s campaign hit a painful snag on Sunday for Smriti Mandhana.
Chasing a formidable 289 against England at the Holkar Stadium in Indore,
the hosts appeared poised for victory until a dramatic batting collapse in the death overs derailed their hopes.
At the center of the heartbreak—and the post-match introspection—was vice-captain Smriti Mandhana,
who not only anchored the innings with a masterful 88 but also candidly shouldered the blame for the four-run defeat.
Smriti Mandhana’s dismissal in the 42nd over, attempting a lofted Poor shot off left-arm spinner Linsey Smith that sailed straight to long-off, marked the turning point.
At that juncture, India needed just 55 runs off 52 balls with six wickets intact
—a scenario screaming for composure rather than risk.
Yet, as Smriti Mandhana later admitted, emotions clouded judgment, triggering a chain reaction that saw the team lose momentum and ultimately fall short at 284 all out.
A Chase That Teetered on the Edge for Smriti Mandhan
England’s innings had set the stage with a competitive total of 288/8, powered by a gritty half-century from captain Heather Knight and contributions from the top order.
Bowling first, India relied on a disciplined effort from their seamers and spinners to keep the score in check,
but the real test lay in the run chase.
Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana provided a solid start, but it was the 125-run third-wicket partnership between Smriti Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur that truly steadied the ship.
Smriti Mandhana, elegant and unflappable throughout, stroked her way to 88 off 94 balls, blending crisp drives with calculated singles.
The equation simplified to a cruise: six runs per over, plenty of overs left, and a batting lineup brimming with firepower.
But cricket, as Mandhana herself noted, has a way of punishing overconfidence.
Her attempted loft—described by the batter as a mistimed effort to “take her on” over cover—opened the floodgates.
Richa Ghosh followed soon after, drilling a catch to cover, while Deepti Sharma’s miscued slog compounded the woes.
In a blur of poor decisions, India surrendered six wickets for a mere 51 runs,
echoing a similar middle-order implosion in their previous match against Australia.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who fought valiantly for her 67, later called Mandhana’s wicket the “turning point,” underscoring the left-hander’s pivotal role in the innings.
“It Started With Me”: Smriti Mandhana Raw Reflection In ICC Women’s World Cup 2025
In the post-match press conference, Mandhana’s voice carried the weight of the loss,
her eyes betraying the emotion that had welled up even as she walked off the field.
Breaking down briefly while addressing reporters, the 29-year-old didn’t shy away from accountability.”Yeah, for sure. I mean, we collapsed, and everyone saw that.
I think our shot selections at that stage could have been better. Especially since it started with me, I take responsibility for that; my shot selection should have been smarter,” she said.
Mandhana elaborated on the fateful stroke: “I thought I could take her on—I was trying to hit over cover and missed.
Maybe that shot wasn’t needed.
I should’ve been more patient. I was telling myself not to play alien shots, but emotions took over.
” The vice-captain’s introspection extended beyond her own dismissal. “We just needed six per over. Maybe we should have taken the game deeper.
So yeah, I mean, I’ll take it from myself because the collapse started from me.
” Her words resonated as a leader’s mea culpa, refusing to deflect blame onto the pitch, conditions, or England’s bowling
—though the visitors’ spinners, including Sophie Ecclestone, deserve credit for their composure under pressure.
Mandhana’s candor is a hallmark of her character, a trait that has endeared her to fans and teammates alike.
From her breakout performances in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup to her recent IPL exploits captaining Royal Challengers Bangalore, she has often been the fulcrum of India’s batting.
Yet, in moments like these, her willingness to own the narrative sets her apart.
A Familiar Foe: The Ghost of Chokes Past
This wasn’t the first time Poor shot selection has haunted Mandhana or the Indian team in crunch situations.
Social media buzzed with reminders of past instances—her lofted dismissal in a WPL final or ill-timed shots during bilateral series—where promise gave way to pressure.
Critics on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to point fingers: “Poor judgement and shot selection,” one user lamented, while another decried the “nonsense lofted shot” that threw away a potential century and the match.
But Mandhana pushed back gently on the over-reliance narrative, defending the team’s depth. “Of course Richa has been good for us, but I wouldn’t say that it’s only dependent on her,” she clarified, emphasizing collective responsibility.
The loss, she added, was a stark reminder that “in cricket, nothing comes easy,” but one the side would absorb and move forward from.
Eyes on the Semi-Final Horizon for Smriti Mandhana
With this defeat, India’s semi-final aspirations now hinge on a must-win against New Zealand on October 23 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai—a virtual knockout clash.
A victory there, coupled with favorable results elsewhere, could still propel the hosts into the top four. Mandhana remained defiant: “You don’t play cricket to have easy days. We’ll all take this in our strides.”
For Mandhana, this setback is but a chapter in a storied career. Her 88 on Sunday was a testament to her class—a fluent knock that silenced early doubters and built a platform few could have.
The key now ? Channeling that accountability into sharper decision-making.
As she put it, walking off the field, she was “pretty confident” of victory—until cricket’s cruel twist reminded everyone why it’s the ultimate leveler.
In a tournament defined by resilience, Mandhana’s words offer just that: a blueprint for bouncing back. India fans, hold tight—the chase isn’t over yet.
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