As the afternoon sun beat down on the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Team India marched into one of their most important training sessions yet, fine-tuning their preparations ahead of their sixth match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 against New Zealand. After suffering three consecutive defeats, the Women in Blue find themselves backed into a corner – desperate for a turnaround to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
After a rain-soaked day in Navi Mumbai, clear skies finally returned and the players took full advantage of the scorching sun and trained intensively under the watchful eye of head coach Amol Muzumdar. The meeting began with a team warm-up before each player focused on their individual role, the atmosphere charged with quiet determination.
The spotlight was firmly on Jemimah Rodrigues, who has yet to experience the outings she would have hoped for in her first Women’s World Cup. Under pressure to regain her place in the playing XI after being dropped against England, Jemimah began an intense batting in the nets by facing several throwdowns.
Her defense was thoroughly tested by the Indian pullers as the head coach gradually increased the intensity. Some local net bowlers were also called upon to play the Indian batter, surprising her with some short deliveries. But a determined Jemimah was up to the task, pulling one over deep mid-wicket for a maximum, showing the power in her hitting.
While Jemimah toiled hard to find rhythm in her batting, Smriti Mandhana saw the ball like a beach ball and her bat made the sweet sound of well-timed strokes. The southpaw showcased her wide range of strokes, picking up seamers with absolute ease and even hitting a few ramp shots behind the wicket. Spinners Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana and Shree Charani also improved their bowling skills. Team India training in Navi Mumbai (India Photo of the Day)
HARMANPREET WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE RAZOR
While Mandhana was going through a free session, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who had finally found some form in the previous game against England, also joined. The Indian skipper began by facing spin, which proved to be a challenge for the Women in Blue during the middle overs.
Before stepping into the nets, Harmanpreet sat focused with her pads on and seemed to have got into a groove ahead of the all-important clash. The India captain looked poised and confident in the nets and her signature big shots came to the fore once again.
The sense of purpose was palpable throughout the team as they left no stone unturned in addressing any chinks in their armor. Fielding coach Munish Bali assembled the group for an intense fielding drill that began with some shots in the field followed by close-up catches at high speed.
While everyone displayed sharp reflexes with brilliant shots, it was Radha Yadav’s amazing left-arm catch that stole the limelight and set the benchmark for others. Radha, who is yet to feature, has largely been used as a substitute fielder in the campaign.
Despite the setback of three consecutive defeats, spirits in the Indian camp remained as high as ever as they battled through the session under the scorching Navi Mumbai sun.
With the World Cup campaign now drawing to a close, India will be keen to translate their training intensity into a clinical performance on match day. The clash against New Zealand is not just about points on the board, it is about rediscovering their rhythm, reasserting their dominance and restoring faith in their ability to go further.
There was a quiet confidence in the air as the team walked off the pitch, drenched in sweat but driven by purpose. The Women in Blue know the road ahead will not be easy, but with renewed focus, unity and resilience, they remain steadfast in their pursuit of glory on cricket’s biggest stage.
– The end
Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
October 22, 2025
