Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team will round off their Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 campaign with a challenging clash against hosts India on Sunday (26 October) at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, starting at 3:30 PM Bangladesh time. While Nigar Sultana Joty’s side is already out of contention for the semi-finals, the team remains determined to end their tournament on a high by defeating one of the favourites.
Bangladesh Seek Pride in Final Outing
Despite flashes of promise throughout the tournament, Bangladesh’s campaign has been marred by inconsistency — particularly in the batting department. Their disciplined bowling attack has often kept them competitive, but frequent batting collapses have proved costly.
The Tigresses opened their World Cup campaign with a thrilling victory over Pakistan, showcasing their resilience. However, subsequent defeats to South Africa, New Zealand, and England, followed by a narrow and heartbreaking loss to Sri Lanka, dashed their qualification hopes.
“We may not reach the semi-finals, but we want to finish strongly,” captain Nigar Sultana Joty said in a pre-match press conference. “India are in great form, but we have shown before that we can challenge them. We’ll play with heart and discipline.”
Bangladesh’s last ODI encounter with India — during the 2024 bilateral series at home — ended in a 1–1 draw, giving the Tigresses a psychological boost ahead of this high-profile fixture.
Key Players and Team Analysis
Bangladesh’s batting unit will need to fire collectively if they hope to upset India. The focus will be on Fargana Hoque Pinky, Shobhana Mostary, and captain Joty, who have been among the few to show stability at the crease.
Meanwhile, the bowling attack, spearheaded by Marufa Akter, Nahida Akter, and Rabeya Khan, has been Bangladesh’s strongest department, often keeping stronger teams in check with tight lines and clever variations.
| Bangladesh Players to Watch | Role | Notable Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Nigar Sultana Joty | Captain, Wicketkeeper-Batter | Anchored innings vs Pakistan |
| Fargana Hoque | Top-Order Batter | Consistent scorer in middle overs |
| Marufa Akter | Fast Bowler | Leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh |
| Nahida Akter | Spinner | Economical spells in key matches |
Joty has urged her batters to take more responsibility and improve their strike rates — something that has been lacking in their middle-order play. “We’ve bowled well enough to win more games,” she added. “Now it’s time for our batters to step up.”
India’s Dominant Run Continues
Hosts India have already sealed a spot in the semi-finals and are riding high on momentum. Smriti Mandhana’s stunning century in the previous match against New Zealand has solidified her form, while Jemimah Rodrigues and Pratika Rawal have provided consistent support in the middle order.
The Indian bowling attack — featuring Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, and Kranti Deshmukh — has been equally formidable, dismantling top orders with pace and precision.
| India Players to Watch | Role | Recent Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | Opening Batter | Century vs New Zealand |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Middle-Order Batter | Match-winning 78 vs England |
| Deepti Sharma | All-Rounder | 3/29 vs South Africa |
| Renuka Singh Thakur | Fast Bowler | 2 wickets in each of last 3 matches |
India’s consistency has been one of the standout stories of the tournament. Their bowlers have excelled in exploiting home conditions, while their batting depth has made them one of the most balanced sides in this year’s competition.
“We want to maintain our rhythm before the semi-finals,” Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur said. “Bangladesh have improved a lot, so we can’t take them lightly. Every game is a chance to fine-tune before the knockouts.”
Historical Context and Rivalry
The India–Bangladesh women’s cricket rivalry has grown significantly over the past decade. Bangladesh famously defeated India in the 2018 Asia Cup final, a moment that transformed their standing in women’s cricket and inspired a new generation of players.
Since then, India have largely dominated the head-to-head record, but Bangladesh’s spirited performances — particularly in limited-overs formats — have ensured competitive encounters.
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Bangladesh Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| T20Is | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
The upcoming clash in Mumbai is expected to draw a large South Asian audience, with both nations sharing deep cricketing passion and regional pride.
Match Details
| Fixture | Bangladesh vs India – ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 |
|---|---|
| Venue | DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai |
| Date | Sunday, 26 October 2025 |
| Time | 3:30 PM (Bangladesh Time) |
| Broadcast | T-Sports, GTV (Bangladesh); Star Sports (India) |
Outlook
While India enter the match as overwhelming favourites, Bangladesh will be eager to spoil their party and finish the tournament on a winning note. A victory against the hosts would not only end their World Cup campaign on a positive note but also reinforce the steady progress of Bangladesh women’s cricket on the global stage.
Regardless of the result, the fixture symbolises more than just cricket — it’s a celebration of South Asian pride, sporting friendship, and the growth of women’s cricket in the region.