India’s Batting Woes Threaten World Cup Momentum Despite Early Wins

India’s World Cup campaign has started well with two wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but the batting performance raises concerns. Despite the victories, the team’s runs have come slowly, and partnerships have been fragile, which could be problematic as tougher opponents loom.

So far, only two Indian batters—Harleen Deol and Deepti Sharma—have scored fifties. While India has managed to contain subcontinental teams, the upcoming matches against stronger SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) will demand a much sharper batting display. The team’s average totals have been enough to win so far, but the lack of aggressive strike rates and solid partnerships hint at struggles ahead.

Smriti Mandhana, India’s in-form opener and tempo-setter, has failed to make an impact in the two matches, scoring just 31 runs at an average of 15.5 and a strike rate of 73.8. This slow scoring at the top means India hasn’t been able to capitalize on Powerplay overs, a worrying sign on pitches that have offered some assistance to bowlers.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, batting at No. 4, has also struggled to accelerate innings. Her 40 runs at a strike rate of 75.5 have not brought the required momentum, with the team’s run rate even dipping during her partnerships. Known for her big-match temperament, Harmanpreet’s tentative approach needs to shift to more aggressive intent.

Even the more consistent batters like Deepti Sharma and Harleen Deol, who have been reliable, have strike rates under 74, which is below the modern ODI standard. While they have done their job, the urgency to push the scoring rate is missing.

The middle and lower order have shown flashes of what’s needed—Sneh Rana’s 28 off 28 balls and Richa Ghosh’s quickfire 35 at a strike rate of 175 stand out. Amanjot Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues have also contributed with brisk innings, showing the kind of intent India needs more regularly. However, Rodrigues and Ghosh are not batting high enough in the order to maximize their impact.

This pattern of inconsistent run-scoring and a lack of fluent partnerships means India’s batting still feels stuck in second gear. Early wins have masked these issues, but against top-ranked teams like South Africa, Australia, England, and New Zealand, India will need to raise their scoring rate to at least 5 runs per over consistently. Unless the senior batters find their rhythm and the team increases its scoring tempo, the challenges ahead could prove far tougher.