India is yet to deliver a perfect performance, and the team is preparing for a tough contest in Vizag.
Big Picture
Initially, the 2025/26 Women`s World Cup was anticipated to be a high-scoring spectacle, especially after nearly 800 runs were scored in a match between India and Australia just before its commencement. However, the tournament has since delivered surprises: South Africa was dismissed for just 69 runs, India experienced two collapses, the 275-run mark was surpassed only once, and even Australia crumbled to 76 for 7 wickets. The action now shifts to Visakhapatnam, the fourth venue of this World Cup, where the Indian team conducted its preparatory camps. Five women`s ODIs have previously been played here, the last in 2014, but none involving South Africa. Both teams arrive with mixed results from their initial two games, yet they possess the necessary talent—batters, spinners, and quick bowlers—to adapt to Visakhapatnam`s humid conditions.
India`s first two victories were far from their `perfect game,` as Jemimah Rodrigues noted. This upcoming match marks the beginning of a crucial ten-day stretch for India, featuring major clashes against South Africa, Australia, and England, which could well determine their trajectory in this home World Cup. South Africa had previously eliminated India from the semi-final contention in the last ODI World Cup but has since suffered a 5-0 defeat to India, including three ODIs in India last year and two in the Sri Lanka tri-series earlier this year. With rain still a possibility in the city, both teams will be eager to maintain their winning momentum.
Form Guide
India: Win, Win, Loss, Win, Loss (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa: Win, Loss, Loss, Win, Win (last five completed matches, most recent first)
In the Spotlight
Tazmin Brits and Smriti Mandhana collectively account for nine of the 29 centuries scored this year by players from teams participating in this World Cup. Brits leads with five centuries in a calendar year, closely followed by Mandhana with four. Mandhana, however, has played five more innings (11 for Brits) this year, accumulating 959 runs compared to Brits` 749. Brits recently set a new record as the fastest to reach seven ODI hundreds (in 41 innings), while Mandhana recently recorded the second-fastest ODI century against world champions Australia.
Thursday`s match will feature a clash between two of the most prolific ODI openers and batters who have consistently rewritten record books. Brits` 101 against New Zealand secured South Africa`s first points, and India hopes Mandhana can emulate this form, especially after her two modest scores at the start of the tournament.
Team News
India played without Amanjot Kaur in the Pakistan match due to fever, but she is likely to return for this game, having extensively practiced bowling and batting in the nets on Tuesday evening. The challenge lies in integrating her back into the squad, especially since her replacement, Renuka Singh, bowled meticulously with the new ball, delivering a maiden over and finishing with 0 for 29 runs from her 10 overs. India is also deliberating whether their five-bowler strategy will be adequate against an opponent that scored 234 runs in under 41 overs just a few days prior. The only viable way to introduce a sixth bowler would be to drop a batter, a decision that presents considerable difficulty.
India (possible lineup):
- 1 Smriti Mandhana
- 2 Prtika Rawal
- 3 Harleen Deol
- 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (captain)
- 5 Jemimah Rodrigues
- 6 Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper)
- 7 Deepti Sharma
- 8 Amanjot Kaur
- 9 Sneh Rana
- 10 Shree Charani
- 11 Kranti Goud
South Africa may opt to retain their winning XI from the New Zealand match in Indore, though conditions in Visakhapatnam might not be as favorable. Nevertheless, Anneke Bosch at number five is under increasing pressure, having scored 0, 6, and 10 in her last three ODIs. South Africa has so far kept pace-bowling allrounder Annerie Dercksen, widely considered Marizanne Kapp`s successor, out of the playing eleven.
South Africa (possible lineup):
- 1 Laura Wolvaardt (captain)
- 2 Tazmin Brits
- 3 Sune Luss
- 4 Marizanne Kapp
- 5 Anneke Bosch/ Annerie Dercksen
- 6 Sinalo Jafta (wicket-keeper)
- 7 Chloe Tryon
- 8 Nadine de Klerk
- 9 Masabata Klaas
- 10 Ayabonga Khaka
- 11 Nonkululeko Mlaba
Pitch and Conditions
A brief shower occurred two days before the match, followed by a slightly longer spell of rain the day prior, neither of which significantly threatened a washout on game day. Some light precipitation is also anticipated on Wednesday afternoon, though it is not expected to be as severe as what was seen in Colombo during the Australia vs. Sri Lanka fixture. Aligning with the conditions at other World Cup venues where these teams have played—Indore, Guwahati, and Colombo—Visakhapatnam is set to be humid, with temperatures reaching the low thirties Celsius but potentially feeling much warmer. Rodrigues suggested on the eve of the match that a score around 270 runs could prove competitive on this ground.
Stats and Trivia
- Marizanne Kapp has become South Africa`s most capped player in ODIs, surpassing Mignon du Preez with 155 matches in their recent game.
- Mandhana boasts three centuries against South Africa and an average of 53.29, accumulating 906 runs in 18 innings. Harmanpreet`s average is slightly higher at 53.46, with 802 runs from 23 appearances.
- Harmanpreet needs 84 more runs to reach 1000 runs in ODI World Cups. Mithali Raj is the sole Indian woman with over 1000 World Cup runs, ranking second overall with 1321 runs, behind Debbie Hockley`s 1501.
- Kapp requires just four more wickets to match Shabnim Ismail`s record of 36 wickets for a South African player in World Cups. Jhulan Goswami leads this category with 43 wickets.
Quotes
`Indeed, we`ve seen modest contributions from both our top and middle order. However, each match has produced new game-winners. Therefore, I believe opposing teams, when observing us, recognize that our batting lineup extends deep into the order. If one player doesn`t perform, another steps up to take responsibility. I would frame it this way: it`s intimidating for our opponents to know that we haven`t even played our perfect match yet.`
India batter Jemimah Rodrigues expressed her hope that India`s peak performance is imminent.
`Ultimately, I believe this World Cup is defined by resilience and character, qualities I think we demonstrated in our last game. It`s crucial to be at your absolute best from the very first match; we weren`t against England and consequently faced significant pressure. So, I view that as a wake-up call, and now we must be prepared for every single game we play.`
South Africa allrounder Nadine de Klerk stated they are now prepared to compete fiercely after being dismissed for just 69 runs in their opening match.
