By the time the final ball was bowled in Visakhapatnam, the warning signs had become impossible to ignore. India, unbeaten until now in the 2025 ICC Women's World Cup, were handed a harsh reality check by a resolute South African side - one that ruthlessly exposed a pattern far more troubling than a single off day: a brittle top order, chronic struggles against left-arm spin, too many dot deliveries and the growing realisation that the cracks glossed over in earlier matches may now be threatening to derail the campaign entirely.
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South Africa, fresh from a remarkable comeback win over New Zealand and still smarting from a 10-wicket drubbing at the hands of England, arrived in Vizag with clarity of purpose and clinical execution. India, in contrast, once again stumbled at the top.
For the third game in succession, India's top order fell short, leaving the team in increasingly precarious positions. A batting line-up that entered the tournament on the back of strong performances has failed to carry that form onto
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