"She is a very decent player" - Aakash Chopra suggests a change in India's XI for Women's World Cup 2025 final

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Women in Blue should include Sneh Rana in their playing XI for the Women's World Cup 2025 final. He highlighted that the spin-bowling all-rounder could prove handy with the bat in a run chase.

India will face South Africa in the Women's World Cup 2025 final in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2. While Harmanpreet Kaur and company registered a five-wicket win against Australia in the second semi-final at the same venue on Thursday, October 30, the Proteas women thrashed England by 125 runs in the first last-four clash in Guwahati a day earlier.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener urged the Women in Blue not to commit unforced errors while fielding and reckoned that Rana should replace Radha Yadav in the playing XI.

"What are the things India need to control - unforced errors. Don't drop catches. It didn't prove expensive last time, but it can. It proved expensive for Australia. They gave Jemimah Rodrigues two chances, and the result is there for everyone to see. If we give a chance to Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk or Marizanne Kapp, we will be done," Chopra said (3:45). "I won't talk about the toss because we don't win. So don't worry about that. Don't mind, we can chase. Dew comes here and the ball starts coming nicely onto the bat. Play Sneh Rana in place of Radha Yadav because Sneh Rana's batting might be very useful for you while chasing. She bowls off-spin in any case. She is a very decent player. Don't change anything else," he added.

Sneh Rana has picked up seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.67 in six innings in the Women's World Cup 2025. However, Radha Yadav replaced her in the XI in the co-hosts' last two games, with the left-arm spinner accounting for four dismissals at an economy rate of 6.85.

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"I am very eager to see fours and sixes from Shafali Verma's bat" - Aakash Chopra on his expectations from Indian batters in the Women's World Cup 2025 final

Shafali Verma managed only 10 runs in the Women's World Cup 2025 semi-final against Australia. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra expressed hope that Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and the other Indian batters would be among the runs in the Women's World Cup 2025 final.

"I am expecting runs from Smriti Mandhana's bat. I am very eager to see fours and sixes from Shafali Verma's bat. Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma - we shall do it, only best wishes for them," he said (4:35).

While acknowledging that India didn't have a glorious run in the league phase, the cricketer-turned-commentator noted that the semi-final win against Australia would make them feel invincible.

"It hasn't been a fairytale World Cup for the Indian women's team. You lost three consecutive matches and the heart broke more than once. In such a scenario, the self-doubts creep in. After that, you changed your combination. A lot happened in this World Cup. A time comes in any trophy-winning campaign when everyone feels they are invincible. This was the semi-final moment," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra highlighted that he is quietly confident about India lifting the Women's World Cup 2025 trophy. While acknowledging that the Women in Blue might not have been the best team in the tournament, the analyst pointed out that they are peaking at the right time.

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Edited by Kartik Iyer