India Women's Cricket Team Faces Crucial Test Against New Zealand

As the Indian women's cricket team prepares for a must-win clash against New Zealand on October 23, 2025, head coach Amol Muzumdar has expressed confidence in his team's batting lineup, particularly the performances of Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol.

The team's campaign has been far from perfect, with repeated collapses in the middle overs against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and South Africa. The strike rotation against spin after a good powerplay has been a major talking point, with Rawal and Deol at the forefront of the team's struggles.

However, Muzumdar has brushed aside these concerns, citing Rawal's rapid rise in international cricket. The 23-year-old has averaged around 50 and maintained a strike rate of 82-83 since making her debut last December. Deol, on the other hand, has been striking at 75.11 with 169 runs from five innings in the tournament.

Despite the team's middle-order woes, Muzumdar has expressed unwavering support for his players, stating that the entire team is behind Rawal and Deol. The head coach's comments stand in contrast to his previous remarks, where he had acknowledged the need to address the team's strike rotation and dot-ball issues.

As India heads into the virtual quarter-final against New Zealand, the onus will be on the middle order to shed their conservative approach and complement the solid starts provided by the top order. The team's ability to rotate strike and maintain momentum will not only decide the course of Thursday's clash but also define their temperament under pressure.