Indore, October 20 (Udaipur Kiran): Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed deep disappointment after India’s narrow 4-run loss to England in a crucial Women’s World Cup 2025 match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. India came agonizingly close to victory but fell short despite a strong chase led by Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur herself.
Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet said, “Smriti’s wicket was the turning point for us. I don’t know how things changed so quickly. Credit goes to England — they never gave up. After putting in so much effort, it hurts to lose. The last five to six overs didn’t go as planned; it’s a heartbreaking moment for us.”
She added, “We’ve been playing good cricket and showing fight, but we need to finish matches. Our bowlers did a great job. When Nat and Heather were batting, they were playing well. We did many things right, but we need to rethink how we handle the final overs. When Smriti and I were batting, everything was under control, but unfortunately, we couldn’t finish the game. Despite the loss, we played good cricket.”
England, after winning the toss, posted 288/8 in 50 overs, powered by captain Heather Knight’s century — 109 runs off 91 balls with 15 fours and a six. Knight was named Player of the Match.
In reply, India appeared in control during a 125-run third-wicket stand between Smriti Mandhana (88 off 94 balls) and Harmanpreet Kaur (70 off 70 balls). However, both fell in quick succession, and India’s chase lost momentum. Deepti Sharma tried to revive the innings with a fighting 50 off 57 balls, but her dismissal sealed India’s fate.
Despite having six wickets in hand and needing just 42 runs off the last six overs, India managed only 284/6, falling four runs short of the target.
With this defeat, India suffered their third straight loss in the tournament, making their path to the semifinals challenging but still mathematically possible.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
