The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 delivers another high-stakes showdown as India Women host South Africa Women in Match 10 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on October 9, 2025. With India holding second place after back-to-back victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, this day-night contest at 3:00 PM IST carries significant implications for semi-final positioning.
South Africa, aiming to climb from fifth, brings renewed confidence following a recovery win against New Zealand. Central to India’s preparations are the batting concerns surrounding opener Smriti Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, whose modest returns—Mandhana’s 8 and 31 runs in the opening games, alongside Kaur’s golden duck and subsequent 46—highlight the need for a top-order resurgence to counter South Africa’s probing bowlers.
Pitch Report & Weather Report
The Visakhapatnam venue typically presents a batsman-oriented surface with true bounce and compact boundaries that reward aggressive play. In ODIs, first-innings scores average around 230-250, with initial conditions offering modest seam movement before favoring spinners through grip and turn in later stages.
Conditions in Visakhapatnam on October 9 forecast partly cloudy skies with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 30°C and humidity near 80%. A 40% probability of isolated showers in the evening could affect play, though early clearance supports a complete match. High moisture levels may assist swing bowlers initially.
Head-to-Head Records
| Matches Played | 33 |
| IND W Won | 20 |
| SA W Won | 12 |
| No Result | 1 |
| First Fixture | December 22, 1997 (IND W Won) |
| Last Fixture | May 7, 2025 (IND W Won) |
Spotlight on Key Performers: Smriti Mandhana & Harmanpreet Kaur Under the Microscope
India’s aspirations hinge on resolving top-order vulnerabilities, epitomized by the subdued outputs from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. As the top-ranked ODI batter, Smriti Mandhana entered the tournament with high expectations but managed only 8 runs off 10 balls against Sri Lanka, succumbing to early seam before scraping 31 off 37 versus Pakistan, her lbw dismissal curtailing a promising stand. These scores, at a combined strike rate below 80, stem from tentative footwork against moving deliveries, a departure from her prolific pre-World Cup form and raising alarms ahead of South Africa’s pace attack led by Ayabonga Khaka.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s challenges compound the issue, with a tournament aggregate of 46 runs from two innings at 70.76 strike rate. Her first-ball bowled dismissal in the opener triggered a collapse from 120 for 3 to 121 for 7, while her labored 46 against Pakistan—marked by four boundaries and a six—lacked the acceleration needed to set a challenging total.
As captain on home turf, Harmanpreet Kaur’s inability to stabilize or ignite the innings shifts undue pressure to the middle order, including Jemimah Rodrigues. Experts note that while India’s depth has masked these flaws so far, a revival from these leaders is vital against South Africa’s spinners like Nonkululeko Mlaba, who could exploit hesitancy.
Predicted Playing XIs & Potential Winner
India Women (IND W): Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur
South Africa Women (SA W): Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta(w), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
India Women hold a 65-35 favoritism to secure a 20-25 run victory or five-wicket chase, capitalizing on home conditions and historical edge. A target of 250-270 appears defendable via spin control, provided Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur contribute substantially to avoid over-reliance on the tail. South Africa’s fighting spirit introduces variability, but India’s overall cohesion should shine through.
Also Read: ICC Women’s ODI WC 2025: Tazmin Brits’ Monumental Ton Ruins New Zealand