India’s preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 suffered a major setback when pacer Arundhati Reddy was wheelchaired off the field during a warm-up match against England in Bengaluru. The unfortunate incident occurred while Reddy was bowling her follow-through.
After dismissing England opener Amy Jones earlier, she attempted to take a return catch off Heather Knight’s shot but landed awkwardly on her left leg, collapsing immediately. Medical staff rushed to the ground to assist her, but the seriousness of the situation required a wheelchair to escort her away. As per ICC updates, “Doubts loom over Reddy’s participation in the World Cup following a freak accident,” leaving India with an uncertain bowling attack ahead of the tournament.
Performance Record and Importance in the Squad
Since making her ODI debut last year, Arundhati Reddy has quickly become an impactful bowler for India. In her 11 matches, she has claimed 15 wickets at an average of 32.66, with her career-best figures of 4/26 standing out. Her recent form against Australia showcased her potential, as she picked up four wickets across two matches, including a three-wicket haul in Delhi.
However, 2025 has been a mixed year for her, with seven wickets in six matches at an average of 41.85. Despite this, she was considered a key pacer in the squad because of her ability to provide breakthroughs at crucial moments. Losing her before the start of the World Cup would create a gap in India’s pace attack and could force team management to rely more heavily on Renuka Singh Thakur or turn to reserves such as Priya Mishra or Minnu Mani.
India’s World Cup Campaign Outlook
India will begin their World Cup journey against Sri Lanka on September 30 in Guwahati. The team, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana as deputy, has strong batting depth and experienced all-rounders like Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana. Having reached the finals in 2005 and 2017, the side will be eager to secure their maiden title on home soil.
However, their recent 1-2 series defeat to Australia highlighted certain areas of concern, particularly in bowling. The ongoing warm-up game against England further adds to the challenge. India opted to field first, and by the 36th over, England had already reached 214/3. With the injury cloud over Reddy, the squad’s balance may face disruption, and selectors might need to quickly reassess strategies before the crucial opener.
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