Women’s World Cup 2025: Vizag Pitch to Boost India Batters Against South Africa, Australia

The Indian women’s cricket team will face a batting-friendly pitch at Vizag in their upcoming Women’s World Cup 2025 fixtures against South Africa and defending champions Australia. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, which has struggled with the bat in their first two matches of the tournament, is expected to benefit from the flat surface.

India began the tournament with wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, largely due to disciplined bowling, as the batting unit failed to fire. The upcoming matches pose a sterner test against stronger opposition.

“The pitch will offer good help to batters. Bowlers, especially spinners, may get some assistance as the match progresses if there is no dew,” an Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) official told PTI.

The ACA-VDCA stadium will host a women’s ODI after 11 years, the last being against Sri Lanka in 2014. Historically, high-scoring games have been common here, with men’s ODIs witnessing totals above 280 on multiple occasions, including India’s 387 for 5 against West Indies in 2019. These conditions could allow India’s batters to regain confidence following scores of 269/8 against Sri Lanka and 247 against Pakistan.

Focus on Mandhana and Harmanpreet

The spotlight will be on Smriti Mandhana, who has yet to play a big innings despite entering the tournament in fine form. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will aim to maintain momentum and avoid slow middle-over scoring. Familiarity with the surface from recent training sessions in Vizag could prove advantageous.

Honouring Mithali Raj and Kalpana

In a historic gesture, stands at the stadium will be named after former captain Mithali Raj and wicketkeeper Kalpana ahead of India’s match against Australia on October 12. This initiative, suggested by Mandhana during the “Breaking the Boundaries” fireside chat, recognizes the contributions of women who inspired generations of cricketers.

Mithali Raj retired in 2022 with 7,805 ODI runs at an average of 50.68, while Kalpana’s rise to the Indian team has inspired regional players like Arundhati Reddy, S Meghana, and N Sri Charani.

“The ACA’s tribute reflects a commitment to honouring the trailblazers of women’s cricket and inspiring the next generation,” the association said.

As India prepares to take on South Africa and Australia, the batting-friendly Vizag pitch could be the key to unlocking their full potential in the Women’s World Cup 2025.