Following a dominant performance in a crucial game at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, the Indian women’s team earned a place in the semifinals against New Zealand women in a rain-affected encounter. Much of the credit goes to the brilliant opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal; India Women is among the front-running teams in the tournament.
India recorded an amazing 340/3 in 49 overs on Thursday after the opening combination broke a first-wicket record 212-run stand. Pratika Rawal had 122 off 134 balls; Mandhana hit 109 off 95. Using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, their efforts allowed India to set an adjusted target of 325 in 44 overs. New Zealand managed 271/8 in response, falling 53 runs short.
For Rawal, her partner Mandhana’s strategic genius helps to explain her success. “The chat while batting is the computation,” how much to Rawal stated, “She is quite decent with calculations, and I like to contribute with whatever she has to tell me.” Though there were moisture-related delays and a shorter match length, the Indian openers did not allow circumstances to stop their momentum. India grabbed command early on by speeding after a calm power-play. Smriti Mandhana literally signed her name into the history books through an excellent piece of batting and breaking the record of most ODI runs by a woman batter in a Single Year. New Zealand’s response saw Brooke Halliday’s brave 81, but strong Indian bowling and tight under-pressure fielding sabotaged their pursuit.
With a game to spare, this victory guarantees India’s advance to the last four and guarantees their progress even if the last league game goes the other way. Among the most prolific in Indian women’s world cup history, Smriti Mandhana and Rawal’s partnership emphasizes the opening basis India had so often lacked. Much will depend on whether this top-order surge can be duplicated as India approaches the semifinal round. The message for the moment is plain: India enters the knockout rounds with confidence and momentum in hand since their opening couple has stepped up when it most counted.
