A wave of relief has swept through the Indian women’s cricket camp as fast bowler Arundhati Reddy has been declared “perfectly fine” following a recent knee injury scare. This fantastic news comes just in time, providing a significant boost to India’s preparations for the highly anticipated 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup.
Reddy had sustained the injury during a warm-up match against England at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The incident occurred in the 13th over when she attempted to take a return catch from a powerful drive by England’s Heather Knight, just moments after brilliantly dismissing opener Amy Jones. She collapsed on the field, unable to put weight on her left foot, and had to be escorted off in a wheelchair, causing immediate concern among teammates and fans alike. Jemimah Rodrigues stepped in to complete the over.
However, subsequent scans brought excellent news: no damage was found, confirming Reddy’s fitness.
The Indian team is set to kick off their 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup journey against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Guwahati on September 30th. To ensure key players are fresh and ready for the tournament, India had strategically rested captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and star all-rounder Deepti Sharma from the first warm-up fixture. The team will play their second warm-up match against New Zealand at the CoE in Bengaluru this Saturday before heading to Guwahati for the opening match.
Arundhati Reddy is a vital part of India’s World Cup squad, making her debut in this prestigious tournament. She has already proven her mettle, having secured 15 wickets in just 11 Women’s ODIs, including an impressive haul of four for 26 against Australia last December. Her consistent performance for Delhi Capitals in recent seasons also highlights her value to the team. She made her WODI debut against South Africa in Bengaluru last year.