CWC 2025: India’s shaky top order faces South Africa test

India’s fragile top order will need to put back their inconsistent run and find fluency when they face a rejuvenated South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, as the hosts look to continue their unbeaten run in the ICC Women’s World Cup.

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

On paper, India appear in control, comfortably sitting second on the points table with two wins in as many games. Yet the numbers do not present the real picture as the lack of a big score from their established trio of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, continue to be a concern.

The three have struggled for rhythm so far, leaving the middle and lower order to bail the team out in both previous outings. Against Sri Lanka, India stumbled to 124 for six before Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma steadied the innings with fluent halfcenturies. A similar collapse followed against Pakistan, when the score read 159 for five before the lower order once, led by Deepti, again stepped up.