India will have their task cut out when they take on defending champions Australia in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Australia, unbeaten so far in the tournament, are chasing a record-extending eighth title, while India will look to make the most of home advantage and secure a maiden World Cup crown.
The two sides met earlier in the group stage, where Australia, the top-ranked ODI team, chased down a record total to beat India by three wickets in Visakhapatnam. Alyssa Healy’s century in that game was instrumental, but her participation in the semi-final remains uncertain due to a calf injury that has sidelined her for the past two matches.
Healy, however, continues to be Australia’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 294 runs from four innings, followed closely by Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, both in fine touch.
India, meanwhile, suffered a setback with opener Pratika Rawal ruled out due to an ankle injury sustained against Bangladesh last week. Rawal, the team’s second-highest run-getter in the tournament behind Smriti Mandhana, has been replaced by Shafali Verma. The team may also be without wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who is nursing a finger injury.
For India, all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been the standout performer with the ball, jointly leading the wickets tally with Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, both on 15 scalps. Leg-spinner Alana King has also been pivotal for Australia, with 13 wickets so far.
Head-to-head record
Australia hold a commanding edge in the ODI rivalry, having won 49 of the 60 matches between the two teams. India have managed just 11 victories.
In World Cup contests, Australia have won 10 of the 14 meetings, including the 2005 final. India’s most memorable triumph came in the 2017 Derby semi-final, when Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 171 powered India to a 36-run win — one of the biggest upsets in women’s cricket history.
This will be the third India-Australia semi-final in Women’s World Cup history. Australia won the first, in Delhi in 1997.
Weather and match conditions
According to Accuweather, Navi Mumbai faces a 25 percent chance of rain and a 3 percent chance of thunderstorms during Thursday’s game. The semi-final can be extended by up to two hours beyond the scheduled close, and a reserve day is in place for Friday.
For a result to be declared, both teams must bat for at least 20 overs. If no outcome is possible even after the reserve day, Australia will advance to the final, having finished higher on the points table (first) compared to India (fourth).
Notably, India’s last group fixture against Bangladesh at the same venue was washed out due to rain.
Squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Uma Chetry (wk), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (capt/wk), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux (wk), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.