Under-pressure India look to rediscover rhythm against New Zealand

The pressure, and criticism, is mounting on World Cup 2025 hosts. After three successive losses from winning positions, two scrappy wins, and just four points in five games, India's campaign is beginning to see the cracks - read tactical deficiencies - that had been papered over by their dominant pre-tournament form. What was once a "settled line-up" is now being "evaluated on a match-by-match basis".

Tinkering combinations this deep into the tournament may be far from ideal, but with their semis qualification on the line India don't have much choice. Time and games - they're running out of both. Up against New Zealand on Thursday at the DY Patil Stadium, now they also have rain to account for.

For New Zealand, the stakes are even higher. They have arguably been the unluckiest with rain washing out two games - and potentially two wins - that will prove decisive in a tie-breaker. As things stand, the game against the hosts is more a must-win for them than the other way around because India's victory will close out the semis race early.

Frustrated by rain in Colombo, New Zealand arrived in Navi Mumbai to better weather and a batting paradise. There was some unseasonal rain, but at least it hasn't hindered the extended sessions in nets they've spent trying to shake off the rust of an inactive week. Sophie Devine & Co. are aware they're the underdogs going into the fixture, with also a packed "sea of blue" not making their task any easier. What they can control, their captain insisted, is their cricket. And for that, the batting and bowling units need to fire in unison.

A loss, or even washout, may not be as devastating for India but if they're harbouring hopes of competing - not just appearing - in the semis, now is their time to find their rhythm. India can no longer rely on individual brilliance to pull them through at the business end of the competition. A statement performance here would not only ease their road to the semis, but also help shift the narrative - from a team with reactive tactics to the one that's peaking at the right time.

What to expect: A bit of an evening shower has worked its way into the forecast for the remainder of the week, including India's two match days in Navi Mumbai. The pitch had been watered, rolled over, and then covered under layers of covers in anticipation of inclement weather. The conditions are among the best to bat on. A high-scoring game should be the cards, weather permitting.

India: Dropped for the last fixture, Jemimah Rodrigues had multiple stints in both the open and training nets. Renuka Thakur, on the other hand, did not bowl at all in India's only practice session in the city ahead of the game. It's likely India will revert to the five-bowler combination from before the England game, swapping in Rodrigues for Thakur.

"It was one of the tough calls. Given the circumstances, given the conditions in Indore, we opted for the sixth bowling option. That's why one of the batters had to sit out just looking at that combination. She took it really well - that's what Jemi is all about. She's fantastic within the group, a superb role model for everyone in the team. She took it really nicely and very sportingly. I appreciate that. But, we've decided to go on a match-by-match basis. The conditions in Indore were different. The conditions here in Navi Mumbai are different. We'll have a good discussion in the evening, and we'll take a fair call on what we want to do. Hopefully, or maybe, the combination will be different." - Amol Muzumdar, India head coach, on call to drop Rodrigues in Indore and the possible return against New Zealand

"I'm not surprised, to be honest. I expect there to be rain everywhere we go at the moment, but you can't control the weather. We'll deal with it if it comes. There's no point worrying about it. I mean, yeah, I'm sure most teams have got about seven different weather apps and the rain radar. You're trying to talk to the ground staff and try and get as much insight as you can, but until it actually falls down and the umpires call you off, we're just focused on what we want to do. Hopefully, getting a full hundred overs of cricket would be really nice." - Sophie Devine, New Zealand captain, on the unseasonal rain in Navi Mumbai threatening their must-win game

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