Women's ODI World Cup: Season of light and the problem of 80 per cent commitment

Smriti Mandhana sat alone in one corner of the Indian dugout as her team crumbled against England on Sunday, October 19. As the rest of the country prepared to celebrate the festival of lights, the Indian dressing room stayed quiet — a certain darkness lingering in the air.

Mandhana, who faced a difficult post-match press conference, was hard on herself. She blamed her own shot for triggering the collapse, admitting that her dismissal came at a pivotal moment in the game and may have shifted the momentum.

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The mood in the Indian women’s team stands in stark contrast to the celebrations the men’s team enjoyed during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Back then, the Indian men were seen celebrating Diwali in traditional wear, surrounded by their families and glowing with confidence. But this time, the atmosphere is grim. As the women’s team travels from Indore to Mumbai on the day of Diwali, there will likely be no crackers, no festive lights, and no gala dinner.

And perhaps that’s fair. On Sunday, India slumped to their third consecutive defeat in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Since returning from Sri Lanka after their clash with Pakistan, the team has lost to South Africa, Australia, and now England — in each case, from positions where they looked comfortably ahead.

One of the underlying, unspoken reasons behind this downward spiral may just be what could be called the 80 per cent commitment problem — a tendency to do most things right, but fall short in the final push.

In the last two matches, set batters have been dismissed playing loose, tired shots. Consider the game against Australia. Openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana were well-set, having added 155 runs between them.

But under the hot and humid conditions in Vizag, both fell to poor aerial strokes — offering catches to Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry, respectively. Anyone watching could see it wasn’t one rash decision that undid them, but rather the fatigue of bodies constantly opting for the high-risk route — hoping, almost wishfully, that the ball would either clear the ropes or land safely in someone’s hands.

Against England, a similar pattern played out. After Mandhana’s dismissal, Deepti Sharma inexplicably chose to go aggressive even though the required rate was just slightly over a run-a-ball with four overs left in the game.

Her dismissal left two fresh batters at the crease for the final three overs — on a wicket that didn’t allow batters to simply walk in and start hitting.

The 80 Per Cent Problem

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The Indian women’s team hasn’t been outplayed in a single match this tournament. They’ve had winning positions — strong starts with the bat, dominant spells with the ball, tight fielding stretches — but somehow, the final blow, the last act, is missing. This is not a team struggling with talent or technique. The issue lies elsewhere — in the space between a good performance and a match-winning one. Once, again, to reiterate – the 80 per cent problem.

India are doing the hard work. They're getting set at the crease, building partnerships, and ticking off the basics. But when the time comes to finish, to grind through fatigue and pressure, to push that extra 20 per cent — the part that turns performances into wins — something gives.

It’s a combination of physical exhaustion, mental lapses, and maybe even a creeping self-doubt in clutch moments. Whether it's a rash aerial shot when patience is needed, or a bowling spell that perhaps needed to be extended by the captain, the trend has been consistent: the team reaches the cusp of control, then lets it slip.

Against England, it was Deepti Sharma who faltered. With just over a run-a-ball needed and the game within reach, she chose aggression over calculation and ended up throwing her wicket away. The result? Two new batters at the crease with not enough time to settle — and the game slipped again.

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It’s the same story — the job is 80 per cent done, but that final, decisive stretch is proving to be the hardest.

In elite sport, matches are often decided in that last 20 per cent. The grit to stay switched on. The patience to play the waiting game. The courage to trust your process even when your muscles ache and your mind wanders.

Look at Alyssa Healy. After keeping wickets for 50 overs in Vizag, she came out to bat and faced 107 balls to score a match-winning 142. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t stop at 80 per cent. She went the distance — because that’s what winners do.

If India want to turn things around, they don’t need to change their game. They need to finish their game. That’s the difference right now. Not talent, not tactics — just tenacity.

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Can the Fire Burn?

As India prepare for their final two group-stage matches, they will hope this festival of lights helps turn a flicker into a flame. All they need is one spark — a defining knock, a special spell — something that lights the path forward.

If they can cut down the errors and bring a little more clarity and control to the final phases of their game, there is no reason this team can’t make the final of the tournament.

As the country celebrates Diwali, perhaps it’s time to light a diya for the Indian women’s team — a team in desperate need of hope, and in search of its light.

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