India falter in World Cup opener as fielding woes cost them dear against New Zealand

Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues sit in the dugout (X/ICC)

India’s campaign in the Women’s World Cup got off to a disappointing start as they crumbled against New Zealand in their opening game, losing by 58 runs. The White Ferns, who had been on a 10-match losing streak, ended their drought in emphatic fashion, thanks to a commanding performance with the bat and a fielding meltdown by India that proved costly.

New Zealand, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, saw their openers come out aggressively. Captain Sophie Devine then led from the front with a scintillating 57* off 36 balls, guiding her team to a competitive total of 160. The Indian bowling attack was left scrambling for answers as Georgia Plimmer and her partner Suzie Bates put up a strong opening stand, with India’s misfielding and dropped catches only adding to the chaos.

The fielding lapses began early in the game and continued throughout, undercutting any chance of India building momentum. In the third over, Smriti Mandhana’s blunder at long-on set the tone for what would be a nightmarish day in the field. Plimmer, on just 8, attempted to hit Deepti Sharma over the ropes, but Mandhana, standing well inside the boundary, misjudged the flight and watched the ball sail over her head for a six. Plimmer went on to score a crucial 34 off 23, taking the game away from India.

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The mishaps didn’t stop there. Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, usually reliable behind the stumps, spilled an easy catch off Bates’ top edge in the 8th over, a pivotal moment that could have pegged back New Zealand. Instead, India handed the opposition easy runs, letting pressure slip away at critical junctures. Renuka Singh also missed a straightforward ball after Arundhati Reddy bowled a full delivery to Plimmer, compounding India’s woes.

Chasing 161, the Indian batting lineup never looked settled. The batters struggled to adjust to the surface, falling prey to New Zealand’s slower deliveries. A lack of rhythm and poor shot selection resulted in a dismal collapse, as India were bowled out for 102, well short of the target.

However, the focal point of India’s defeat was not their batting collapse or New Zealand’s bowling, but their dismal fielding. Basic errors, lack of communication, and dropped catches proved to be the difference between a competitive chase and an embarrassing loss. For India, there is now a clear need to address their fielding lapses if they hope to stay alive in this World Cup.

With tougher challenges ahead, India must quickly regroup, improve their fielding standards, and find ways to execute better in pressure situations if they are to bounce back in the tournament.

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