The countdown to the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 has entered its most crucial phase, and for India, preparations are now firmly rooted in Visakhapatnam. From August 25, the coastal city plays host to a week-long camp that could shape the Women in Blue’s maiden quest for a world title on home soil.
The 15-member squad, along with five reserves, reported on August 24, while those returning from the India ‘A’ tour of Australia joined directly, reflecting the urgency with which the build-up is being approached.
But if expectations were of a smooth start, the weather had other plans. Heavy showers greeted the opening day, drenching the lush outfield and forcing a rethink. Yet, where rain could have dampened spirits, it instead sparked creativity. Coaches turned adversity into opportunity, setting up an improvised session that placed fielding at the very centre — the one department India is determined to elevate from flashes of brilliance to dependable strength.
Two makeshift stations emerged on the slippery turf: one for flat catches and another for high takes. Armed with soft balls to counter the wet surface, players threw themselves into the drills, their energy punctuated by laughter and applause.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front, joined by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, N Shree Charani, and Arundhati Reddy, among others. Together, they embraced the conditions, turning rain-soaked challenges into a spirited exercise.
The choice of Vizag is anything but coincidental. India will play two of its sternest leagues matches at this very venue — against South Africa on October 9 and defending champions Australia on October 12. Training here, even in the rain, is less a compromise and more a rehearsal for the exact conditions under which those battles will unfold.
The bigger calendar looms — an ODI series against Australia from September 14, warm-ups against England (September 25) and New Zealand (September 27), and the World Cup opener against Sri Lanka on September 30. Yet, for now, the images from Vizag’s rain-hit first day tell their own story: a team laughing, competing, and bonding through the drizzle, turning adversity into advantage.
