India posted a competitive total of 298-7 in the 2025 Women’s World Cup final against South Africa at Navi Mumbai. After being asked to bat by South African captain Laura Wolvaardt, India reached 166-1 after 27.4 overs but were likely a bit disappointed with the final score, considering their strong start.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set the tone for India’s innings. Mandhana contributed 45 runs off 58 balls, while Verma produced an explosive 87 off 78 deliveries. However, South Africa fought back in the middle overs and death overs to restrict India’s momentum. Nonkuleleko Mlaba bowled brilliantly, conceding just 47 runs in her 10 overs, while Ayabonga Khaka also made an impact with 3 wickets for 58 runs.
A crucial turning point came when India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed on the last ball of the 39th over. With 11 overs remaining, India promoted Amanjot Singh ahead of Richa Ghosh in the batting order. Ghosh is one of three women’s ODI players with over 1,000 career runs at a strike rate exceeding 100, alongside Ash Gardner and Chloe Tryon.
Amanjot managed a quickfire 12 runs off 14 balls before falling, paving the way for Ghosh to enter the crease. Ghosh showcased her hitting prowess, scoring 34 runs from just 24 balls with three fours and two sixes. This innings followed her impactful 16-ball 26 against Australia three nights earlier, which was instrumental in India’s historic chase. Many felt India did not fully capitalize on Ghosh’s hitting potential by limiting her time at the crease in previous matches.
### Why Did India Bat Richa Ghosh Lower Down the Order?
This was not the first time Ghosh batted outside the top six. While her preferred position is No. 6, where she has scored 486 runs at an average of 24.30 and a strike rate of 108, she has also been explosive at positions 7 and 8, scoring 299 runs in those spots with an average of 33.22 and a strike rate of 107.
In 2025 alone, Ghosh batted outside the top six five times before the final. Her most notable performance in this role was a 94-run innings off 77 balls against South Africa, played from No. 8 during the same World Cup. On that occasion, Amanjot was also promoted above her but had come to bat earlier after 26 overs. In contrast, the final saw Ghosh come in after 39 overs, suggesting the team had set the stage for a strong finish.
### Team Composition and Strategic Changes
India’s decision to send Ghosh lower down the order may have been influenced by strategic considerations regarding team composition since the semi-final. The team replaced the injured Pratika Rawal with Shafali Verma and made two further changes: dropping specialist batter Harleen Deol for all-rounder Amanjot Singh, and leaving out Sneh Rana in favor of left-arm spinner Radha Yadav.
These changes were logical given India’s bowling struggles against Australia and South Africa in the league stages. Incorporating an additional bowler made sense, and Yadav’s left-arm spin was viewed as a better match-up against a South African batting lineup dominated by right-handers than Rana’s off-spin.
However, these adjustments came with some batting trade-offs. To safeguard against the risk of being bowled out, India likely chose to deepen the batting order and delay the final acceleration phase of the innings. This strategy probably contributed to holding back Ghosh, who despite fewer opportunities, has shown she can be a formidable hitter late in the innings.
Moreover, Amanjot’s valuable contributions—including a vital fifty against Sri Lanka and useful cameos, such as in the semi-final—justified promoting her ahead of Ghosh in the lineup.
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India’s innings in the final reflected a careful balance between maximizing batting firepower and ensuring bowling support, highlighting the tactical complexities of World Cup cricket. While Ghosh’s lower-order role limited her time at the crease, her impact remains crucial to India’s approach in high-pressure games.
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