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On paper, Australia are the clear favourites to reach the final. But on the field, the gap between the two sides is much narrower than most would believe.
India face Australia in the crucial ICC Women’s ODI World Cup semi-final
Nothing in life comes easy. To achieve something extraordinary, one must dream big and work even harder to turn those dreams into reality. That sentiment perfectly captures the spirit surrounding Thursday’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal between India and Australia in Navi Mumbai.
India, still in pursuit of their maiden ICC title, will take on the mighty Australians – serial winners in women’s cricket – for a coveted place in the final.
For India to realise their long-cherished dream, they must first believe that defeating Australia is possible – and then outwork them on the field. The task is daunting, but greatness in sport rarely comes easy. To be the best, one must conquer the best. And in women’s cricket, there’s no tougher opponent than Australia.
India finished fourth in the league stage with three wins, three losses and one no-result, while Australia topped the table with six wins and one no-result.
On paper, Australia are the clear favourites to reach the final. But cricket isn’t played on paper. On the field, the gap between the two sides is much narrower than most would believe.
If Australia boast the experience and class of Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, and Ellyse Perry, India counter with Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh. The contest may tilt 60–40 in Australia’s favour, but certainly nothing less.
Those who have followed women’s cricket closely might hesitate to believe India can topple Australia, yet the Australians themselves are fully aware of the challenge that India presents. Their head coach, Shelley Nitschke, speaking at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, admitted that knockouts can swing either way and expects a ‘toughly fought contest’.
And there’s good reason for that caution.
In this year’s World Cup, India were the only team to truly trouble Australia. When they met in Visakhapatnam on October 12, India posted 330 runs – the highest total ever scored against Australia in Women’s ODI World Cup history. Though Australia eventually chased it down, India dominated the first half comprehensively. If they can replicate that batting effort and find sharper performances from their bowlers, the impossible may well become possible.
Defeating Australia isn’t unprecedented for India. They’ve done it several times before – most recently in Mullanpur last month, where India handed Australia their first-ever defeat by more than 100 runs. That win was historic, and another one in a World Cup semifinal would be monumental but not entirely shocking.
Sceptics may point out that bilateral wins differ from ICC knockout matches – but even in major tournaments, India have a strong record against Australia. They’ve beaten them three times in World Cup knockouts, and notably, India remain the last team to defeat Australia in a Women’s World Cup.
That famous win came in Derby on July 20, 2017, when Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 171 off 115 balls became a defining moment in Indian women’s cricket. Eight years later, now as captain and on home soil, Harmanpreet will have another chance to script something equally special.
Team News: India
India will be without their star opener Pratika Rawal, who injured herself during the final league match against Bangladesh on October 26 and has been ruled out of the tournament. She has been replaced by Shafali Verma, who has 29 ODIs to her name and is a regular in India’s T20I setup.
Shafali, who has faced Australia several times across formats, will be eager to seize this opportunity. However, it will be a challenge – this will be her first 50-over match in a year, her last ODI appearance coming against New Zealand on October 29, 2024.
Team News: Australia
Australia, meanwhile, are sweating over the fitness of their captain and leading run-scorer Alyssa Healy, who missed the last two games due to injury. In the two matches before that, she had scored consecutive centuries, and her availability could significantly influence the contest.
Weather in Navi Mumbai
Rain could once again play spoilsport. The India vs Bangladesh league match at the same venue was affected by showers, and forecasts suggest heavy rain in the second half of Thursday.
Wednesday remained dry, offering some optimism that the rain may stay away on match day. If not, the ICC has scheduled a reserve day on Friday to ensure a result.
For India, Thursday’s semifinal is more than just another game, it’s a chance to turn years of near-misses into history. For Australia, it’s another step toward reaffirming their dominance.
Dream. Dare. Deliver. That’s what it will take for India to conquer the best.
Navi Mumbai, India, India
October 30, 2025, 06:00 IST
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