India have a mountain to climb when they take on Australia in the all-important Women’s World Cup semi-final on Thursday. There will be little room for error, no space for hesitation — only belief and brilliance can tilt the contest in India’s favour.
Since that unforgettable night in Derby when Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 171 set the stage ablaze, Australia haven’t lost a single World Cup game. Eight years have passed since that knock shook the cricketing world, and yet it remains the benchmark of India’s defiance.
Deepti Sharma and Smriti Mandhana were there that day, watching their captain script history. Come 2025, they’ll walk out again — wiser, hungrier, and aware that history has a strange way of calling upon familiar names. Can Harmanpreet summon another Derby-like storm? Can India rewrite the script against the most dominant side in women’s cricket?
Australia, with 15 consecutive World Cup wins, stand like a wall — unyielding and relentless. Their batting runs deep, their bowling bites hard, and their aura alone can crush opponents before the first ball is bowled. The odds couldn’t be steeper.
But imagine the moment if India were to breach that wall. Imagine the roar if Harmanpreet, Mandhana, and Deepti engineer another upset to stop the Australian juggernaut in its tracks. For India, it’s more than a semi-final — it’s a chance to relive a memory, and perhaps, make a greater one.
THE SIXTH BOWLER CONUNDRUM
India’s Vizag memory against Australia still lingers — a night when the hosts posted their then-highest World Cup total, only to see the Aussies respond with history’s greatest run chase in Women’s ODIs. It was a game that exposed one crucial flaw in India’s setup: the absence of a reliable sixth bowling option. That shortfall cost them dearly.
As India prepare for another face-off with the same formidable rivals, the balance of their bowling attack once again becomes the talking point. Can they afford to go in with just five bowlers against the most complete batting lineup in women’s cricket? Or will they add an extra arm to the attack to counter Australia’s depth?
If India opt for a sixth bowler, the toss-up could be between Amanjot Kaur and Radha Yadav. Radha’s recent three-wicket haul against Bangladesh might just tip the scales in her favour, especially given Amanjot’s struggles the last time she faced the Aussies.
But every choice comes with a trade-off. Should India bring in an additional bowler, Harleen Deol — who’s looked the most vulnerable in the middle order — could make way. The pitch in Navi Mumbai is expected to be a flat, run-laden surface, but against a side like Australia, India might value control over cushion. The decision to play a sixth bowler could well decide whether the night ends in heartbreak or history.
IS RICHA FIT ENOUGH?
Let’s be honest — Richa Ghosh is the only true power-hitter in India’s lower order, and her presence often makes the difference between a total of 300 and 330. When Richa fires, few bowling attacks can contain her. Just ask South Africa, who watched helplessly in Vizag as she tore into their bowlers with effortless aggression.
But India’s hopes of that late-overs surge have taken a hit. Richa injured her finger while attempting to collect a wide delivery off Renuka Singh during the New Zealand game. That blow ruled her out of the clash against Bangladesh and has now left her participation in the semi-final against Australia under a cloud of uncertainty.
If she fails to recover in time, Uma Chetry is expected to step in. Yet, Uma’s lack of ODI experience and the enormity of a World Cup knockout debut raise legitimate questions about her readiness. The dilemma deepens if India also choose to bolster their bowling with a sixth option — in that case, they might field only five established international batters.
There’s also the matter of Shafali Verma, who’s still settling into the squad setup and remains somewhat of an unknown factor in this campaign. Without Richa, the lower middle order could lose its bite, reducing India’s ability to accelerate in the death overs.
As the semi-final looms, India’s selection table is riddled with tough calls — the kind that could define whether they merely compete with Australia or truly challenge their dominance.
GARDNER, HEALY KEY FOR AUSTRALIA
India won’t easily forget what Alyssa Healy did to them in Vizag. She was in such sublime touch that even in her sleep, she might have dismantled India’s bowling with the same effortless strokeplay. That night, Healy was unstoppable — and as if to underline her dominance, she followed it up with a fluent century against Bangladesh.
But in a twist of fate, Australia now find themselves holding their breath over their captain’s fitness. Healy has been nursing a calf injury and is racing against time to be fit for the semi-final. The good news for Australia is that she’s returned to training — and knowing Healy’s competitive streak, she’ll be desperate to lead from the front.
She’s been the heartbeat of Australia’s batting in World Cups, but this time, as captain, she’ll want to make a statement beyond just her runs.
Yet, Australia’s strength doesn’t end with Healy. Ash Gardner has been in monstrous form herself, smashing two centuries in this tournament — one of them the fastest in World Cup history, against England.
Dismiss Healy early, and you’ll still find yourself staring at a lineup that runs frighteningly deep. Beth Mooney, fresh from a hundred against Pakistan, lends stability, while Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, and Ellyse Perry ensure there’s no breathing room for the bowlers.
DON’T LOSE EARLY WICKETS
Ahead of the semi-final, Shafali Verma underlined the importance of composure and clarity. She believes India’s best chance against Australia lies in avoiding early wickets and applying pressure back on the opposition bowlers. For her, the key is to keep things simple — to play within their strengths and not let the enormity of the moment force unnecessary innovation.
It’s a mindset India will need in abundance. Against an Australian attack that thrives on early breakthroughs, patience and precision could be just as valuable as power. Shafali’s focus on restraint and rhythm might well set the tone for India’s batting approach in the high-stakes clash.
“Like I said, I’ve played against Australia many times. I know that if we don’t lose early wickets as a batting unit, they start to feel the pressure. As a bowling unit, we’ll look to maintain good lengths, and as batters, we’ll back our strengths,” Shafali said in the pre-match press conference.
“The simpler we keep things, the better it’ll be. The less we panic, the better we’ll perform. So yes, we’ll back ourselves and keep things simple.”
India know that World Cups at home are rare — moments that come once in a generation. The last time they played a home final was back in 2005, when Karen Rolton’s brilliance powered Australia to glory and left India heartbroken. Two decades later, the stage is set again, and the stakes feel just as personal.
On Thursday, India will look to turn the tide — to challenge Australia’s supremacy, to rewrite old memories, and to pour every ounce of belief into the contest. They’ll know that opportunities like this don’t come often. And if they can summon their best, they might just script a story that outlasts even the heartbreak of 2005.
India Women vs Australia Women: Pitch Report
The pitch in Navi Mumbai has been an excellent one for batting with the average score being 260. India scored 340 the other day against New Zealand and we could be in for another high-scoring affair.
India Women vs Australia Women: Match Details
India and Australia will play at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The match will start at 3 pm IST.
India Women vs Australia Women: Livestreaming
The match will be livestreamed on the JioHotstar app. The matches will also be broadcast on Star Sports Network.
India Women vs Australia Women: Probable Playing XIs
India Women Probable Playing XI
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol/Radha Yadav, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh/Uma Chetry (wk), Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur
Australia Women Probable Playing XI
Georgia Voll/Alyssa Healy, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Beth Mooney (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham/Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt
– Ends
