🏏ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Australia W vs India W, 2nd Semi-Final🏏 - Page 47

Did you know?

- Ashleigh Gardner is the top-ranked all-rounder, second-ranked batter and third-ranked bowler in ODIs currently

- Pacers have claimed only 14 wickets at DY Patil in the three World Cup matches as compared to the 22 that went to slower bowlers

- Smriti Mandhana has hit the most fours (40) and most sixes (8) for India this World Cup

What they said:

"I've played against Australia many times, so it's not something new for me. I know their bowlers and their styles. I'll back my strengths, and yes, they'll come hard at us - but we've prepared a lot and everyone's in touch. Hopefully, we'll perform well. We're focused on doing well, and if we do that, of course, we'll win" - Shafali Verma, India batter, on the Australia hurdle in front of them

"Oh, a huge crowd factor! We played that T20 here with a Super Over and it was a packed house and the atmosphere was probably something that we haven't experienced before. So, we certainly think that's going to be new for some players, but it's also exciting and it's something that we're looking forward to embracing. [The atmosphere] is going to play a big role but that's something that we've sort of wanted to lean into... It's a matter of enjoying and making the most of it." - Shelly Nitschke, Australia head coach, on how crucial a factor the sold-out stadium could be

The second semi-final of the ICC Women's World Cup could be abandoned due to rain. Rain is threatening to cloud the match between India and Australia, scheduled to be played in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. Late-night rain at the start of India's winter season has already affected India's final group-stage match in Mumbai. Rain is also expected to play a significant role in this high-voltage semi-final match at the DY Patil Stadium.

Rain is expected on Thursday morning, followed by overcast skies throughout the day. But as we've seen over the past week, rain has often disrupted play. What if play is abandoned due to rain on Thursday? Will India be eliminated from the tournament? No, not so. The ICC anticipated rain interruptions in World Cup knockout matches, and reserve days have been set aside for each knockout match.

All the very best to the girls in Blue.

Well they can look at it as a gift to someone special.

Cheers..

Australia ended the league stage unbeaten with six wins and one washed-out game. Apart from the fixture between these two sides where the defending champions won by three wickets in a high-scoring thriller at Visakhapatnam, Australia registered one-sided wins in all their games and have looked red-hot favourites to win the competition.

Infact, Australia won the 2022 edition without losing a game and is unbeaten in the competition for eight years (3024 days) and on a 15-match run without defeat. However, their last defeat came against India also at the same final stage in 2017, when the Women in Blue defeated them by 36 runs at Derby in a game remembered for Harmanpreet Kaur's 171.

India Aim To End 3024 Days Streak of Australia

Australia have gone 3024 days without losing a game in the World Cup. They were unbeaten in their winning campaign in the 2022 World Cup. In this tournament, they won six of their seven league stage games with one game (against Sri Lanka) washed out at Colombo without a single ball bowled. However, Australia's last defeat was against India also in the semi-final in 2017. Since then, they have won 15 games in a row.

India Women vs Australia Women Live: Austarlia Dominate Head To head

Total ODIs played - 60

Australia win - 49

India win - 11

Total Women's ODI WC matches played - 14

Australia win - 11

India win - 3

Total Knockout matches played - 3

Australia wins - 2

India wins - 1

Total matches played in 2025 - 4

Australia wins - 3

India wins - 1

First Time Winner?

If India wins the game, it will set up an India-South Africa final, meaning a first-time winner will be guranteed, which will mean the unique trend of 2025 across world sport continues. South Africa are playing the final for the first time in 2025 of the ODI World Cup. India have previously played the summit clash in 2005 (vs Australia) and 2017 (vs England) but lost on both occasions. Infact, both teams have no senior ICC women's title to their name. India also played the women's t20 wc final in 2020 while South Africa did so in 2023 and 2024.

I hope Indian team do well.

No Hiding Place For India

A victory tonight will put these Indian players on the verge of immortality and make them the toast of the nation. However, a defeat will leave a lot of people with no hiding place. Overall, India's campaign has been ordinary so far, with defeats to all three other semi-finalists Australia, England, and South Africa. While all were close games, India is past the stage of being happy with putting up fight. It has been too long of the same happening and another such result vs Australia will leave major questions.

Now Or Never For India

India have never won a global title in women's cricket at the senior level. They have a golden chance to win the first one on some soil. A better chance than this might never come. Australia is the biggest test they will face. Beating them in a semi-final might seem impossible, but if anyone can do it, is India as they showed in 2017.