Heartbreak in Indore India Women Lose by 4 Runs Deepti Sharma Under Fire

By Abhishek Kumar

In a thriller that left fans at the edge of their seats the India women’s cricket team suffered a narrow four-run defeat against England in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at Holkar Stadium Indore. The match will be remembered not just for the heartbreak, but for the drama off the field as well, with former India captain Anjum Chopra openly criticizing all-rounder Deepti Sharma for decisions that may have cost India the match.

England batted first and posted a challenging 288/8 thanks to a magnificent century from Heather Knight. The Indian bowlers fought hard with Deepti Sharma taking 4 wickets for 51 runs showcasing her all-round prowess. However the pitch was tricky and England’s experienced batters kept India under pressure.

India’s chase began brightly. Smriti Mandhana (88) and Harmanpreet Kaur (70) anchored the innings with style and confidence keeping India in striking distance. But in the final overs disaster struck. Deepti Sharma after playing sensibly for most of the innings attempted a risky aerial shot to clear the boundary. It backfired and her dismissal shifted momentum back to England. India faltered under pressure and could not cross the finish line.

Anjum Chopra did not hold back calling some of Deepti’s shot selections unnecessary and suggesting that better judgement could have turned the match in India’s favor. The criticism sparked debates across social media with fans divided between supporting Deepti’s aggressive style and agreeing with Chopra’s tactical concerns. This defeat puts India in a must win situation for their remaining group-stage matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh. Every run and every decision now carries enormous weight.

While Deepti Sharma’s performance with both bat and ball keeps her in India’s core this game will serve as a reminder that skill alone isn’t enough at this level situational awareness is crucial. For Indian fans it was a rollercoaster of emotions hope tension and heartbreak a game that will be talked about for years. India must regroup fast if they want to keep their World Cup dreams alive.