Instead, members of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union, along with a few fans, were present to greet her with garlands and traditional Assamese gamosas. This lack of official reception has drawn sharp criticism, with the union questioning why Chetry did not receive a welcome comparable to other athletes. “Uma has created history. She deserved a grand welcome,” stated Sushil Chetri, president of the union, highlighting the disappointment felt by many.

Political opposition has also joined the fray, with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticizing the state government for its alleged failure to organize a proper reception. He emphasized Chetry’s humble origins and her significant contribution to putting Assam and the Northeast on the global sporting map. While Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal assured that the government would ensure Chetry receives due recognition, the initial lack of an official welcome has cast a shadow.

The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have offered explanations, citing confusion over Chetry’s travel schedule and the recent period of mourning in the state. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia mentioned last-minute travel decisions and suggested that holding grand celebrations would have been inappropriate given the circumstances. The ACA also stated that information about her arrival was not shared in advance, preventing them from making arrangements.

Despite the controversy, a calm and composed Chetry expressed that she did not feel bad, acknowledging that the ACA officials were present and that the Chief Minister might have been busy. She focused on the dream of winning a World Cup and the special significance of her journey from the Northeast. Her coach, Mehboob Alam, spoke of her dedication and the dream of seeing her receive full honors.

Later, the Sports and Youth Welfare Minister met with Chetry for a felicitation, and the Chief Minister’s office highlighted her success as an inspiration. Celebrations eventually took place in her village, marking her remarkable rise from humble beginnings to the world stage.

Muchhal excitedly announced that Mandhana would soon become the daughter-in-law of Indore, playfully calling it the ‘headline’ for reporters. He also extended his best wishes to the Indian women’s cricket team, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Mandhana, for their upcoming game. He expressed a strong desire for the team to win and bring honor to the nation.

Meanwhile, Mandhana is focused on the significant challenge against England in the Women’s World Cup. Following recent losses to South Africa and Australia, a victory against England is vital for India’s semifinal aspirations. Mandhana is currently in excellent form, having scored an impressive 80 runs against Australia. With Australia and South Africa already securing semifinal berths, India is likely vying with New Zealand and England for the remaining two spots.

Play at the R Premadasa Stadium was repeatedly halted by heavy showers. Before the first interruption, Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, delivered a fiery opening spell, dismantling England’s top order and leaving them reeling at 78 for 7. Her pace and swing proved difficult to handle for the English batters. However, a resilient 47-run partnership between Charlie Dean and Em Arlott in the lower order helped steer England to a total of 133 for 9 in 31 overs. This crucial stand provided a glimmer of hope for England’s batting lineup.

England’s batting was further tested by the absence of key bowlers Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell due to illness. While their replacements, Sarah Glenn and Em Arlott, displayed commendable effort, the top order’s inability to anchor the innings was evident. Openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones were dismissed early, and even seasoned players like captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt faced difficulties. Sana continued her impressive run, claiming the vital wicket of Sciver-Brunt with a sharp inswinger. Facing a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 113, Pakistan began their chase with promise, reaching 34 without loss before further rain ended the contest. This draw, while offering Pakistan a valuable point, serves as a reminder for England to address their batting vulnerabilities as the tournament progresses.

Mandhana’s remarkable innings saw her break Belinda Clark’s previous record for most runs in a calendar year, amassing 1,068 runs in 18 innings in 2025. This achievement places her above legendary cricketers like Laura Wolvaardt and Amy Satterthwaite. Furthermore, she became the fifth woman to reach 5,000 ODI runs, but did so in significantly fewer innings (112) and deliveries than previous record-holders like Stafanie Taylor and Suzie Bates.

The match also saw Mandhana achieve her fifth consecutive fifty-plus score against Australia, a feat unmatched by any other batter. Her partnership with Pratika Rawal, which yielded a significant 155-run opening stand, provided India with a strong foundation against the formidable Australian team. Despite eventually being dismissed for 80, Mandhana’s record-breaking performance set a new benchmark in women’s ODI cricket.

India has historically dominated Pakistan in women’s cricket, winning all 11 previous One Day International (ODI) matches between the two teams. In the ODI World Cup, the two sides have met four times, with India emerging victorious on each occasion. In the 2022 World Cup, India defeated Pakistan by 107 runs. This pattern reflects India’s consistent dominance over Pakistan in women’s cricket, similar to the men’s game.

Squads:

India Women: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Sri Charani.

Pakistan Women: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Ameen, Sidra Nawaz (Wicketkeeper), Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (Captain), Eman Fatima, Ramin Shamim, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sayyada Aroob Shah, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Aliya Riaz, Sadaf Shamas.

India’s bowlers, Renuka Singh and Kranti Gaud, set the tone early. Renuka, in particular, delivered an exceptional performance, bowling eight consecutive overs and consistently challenging the Pakistani batters. The Pakistani top order struggled, often appearing unsure as the ball moved off the pitch.

Sidra Amin stood out for Pakistan, displaying resilience and skill. She anchored the innings, forming a partnership with Natalia Pervaiz that briefly offered Pakistan hope. However, the partnership was broken, and India’s bowlers maintained pressure, ultimately leading to Sidra Amin’s dismissal, which sealed Pakistan’s fate.

While the result was positive for India, there were areas for improvement. Richa Ghosh had a challenging day behind the stumps, and the team missed review opportunities. Despite these issues, the positives outweighed the negatives. Kranti Gaud continued her strong performance with crucial breakthroughs, and Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma contributed with key wickets.

With this win, India reaffirmed their status as a tournament favorite. Pakistan, meanwhile, needs to address their batting struggles. Their semifinal chances may be at risk if they fail to find solutions quickly.