🏏ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Australia W vs India W, 2nd Semi-Final🏏 - Page 48

13:30 local: The mighty Aussies. The only undefeated team in this World Cup. The only team to have five individual centuries in this edition. The owner of the best ever bowling figures in a World Cup game. It's a team full of individual superstars. And when put under pressure, they find a way to wrestle back and nail the game on its head. No team ever has even dared to take the Aussies lightly. Teams that thought they had the game in the bag were left befuddled, only to witness the tenacious nature and the ease at which they handle tense moments. Is there a cheat code to stop the Aussie juggernaut? Well, India's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur might just have the answers...

"Renuka with the high catches, Richa doing the keeping drills. Smriti and Jemi taking throwdowns - all that's happened in the last 10-15 minutes on India's side," informs Purnima.

India's only victory in a knockout game against Australia came way back in 2017, when Harmanpreet notched up a mind-boggling 115-ball 171 which included 20 fours and 7 sixes. That knock also remains the highest individual score in a World Cup knockout game till date. Laura Wolvaardt threatened to break that record yesterday, but not to be. South Africa were 202/6 at one stage, but the sheer domination in the last 7 overs and the first 3 overs with the ball all but sealed the game in their favour. India might want to take a leaf out of that game, which is to take the game deep with the bat and leave no room for error with the ball in the powerplay. No doubt, Australia are well-equipped in all departments and have better depth in comparision to England, and the hosts just cannot to afford any hiccups in this high-octane contest. Can India's most experienced trio (Harmanpreet, Smriti and Deepti) stand up today?

13:40 local: "The pitch is uncovered as of now, and ready for the broadcaster's pitch report. But we also see a lot of groundstaff ready by the covers on the other side of the boundary rope. Alyssa Healy comes out for a pitch inspection." Amol Muzumdar too, she quickly adds.

14:00 local, 08:30 GMT: "Renuka with the high catches, Richa doing the keeping drills. Smriti and Jemi taking throwdowns - all that's happened in the last 10-15 minutes on India's side," informs Purnima.

India's only victory in a knockout game against Australia came way back in 2017, when Harmanpreet notched up a mind-boggling 115-ball 171 which included 20 fours and 7 sixes. That knock also remains the highest individual score in a World Cup knockout game till date. Laura Wolvaardt threatened to break that record yesterday, but not to be. South Africa were 202/6 at one stage, but the sheer domination in the last 7 overs and the first 3 overs with the ball all but sealed the game in their favour. India might want to take a leaf out of that game, which is to take the game deep with the bat and leave no room for error with the ball in the powerplay. No doubt, Australia are well-equipped in all departments and have better depth in comparision to England, and the hosts just cannot to afford any hiccups in this high-octane contest. Can India's most experienced trio (Harmanpreet, Smriti and Deepti) stand up today?

There is bright sunshine now.

Looks like the little phase of bad weather has passed by. India players have emerged from the dressing room. Richa Ghosh was out first doing some wicketkeeping drills.

A welcome return for Shafali? Shafali Verma is no normal cricketer. She is the type that the Aussies fear. She is the one that can kill the game in a matter of few overs. Left out from the orginal 15-member squad, Shafali might have a point or two to prove today when she walks out to bat alongside her best mate Smriti Mandhana.

The all-important team news: Alyssa Healy seems to have recovered well from her calf injury and is expected to slot back at the top of the order, alongside the captaincy duties of course. Here is an official update from Cricket Australia. "Healy did not join in Australia's optional session at DY Patil Stadium on Wednesday evening, however her absence was not an unusual occurrence, nor necessarily a concerning one given the 35-year-old would be carefully balancing training versus recovery in her return from a calf injury. She had trained strongly 24 hours earlier, passing a fitness test before completing thorough batting and wicketkeeping sessions."

"Healy did joke in a pre-tournament interview that she'd appreciate some CSK jerseys in the crowd for a bit of yellow at Aus games. Not sure she expected any today though. "

ICYMI: There is a reserve day for all the knockout games this World Cup.

14:10 local, 08:40 GMT: Live visuals paint a picture of unity as both teams engage in an intense huddle. Australia head coach Shelley Nitschke is seen reading out what looks like quite a long note for the players. Plenty of hugs exchanged between players post that. In the Indian camp, their head coach, Amol Muzumdar is doing all the talking. Can spot lot of smiles among the group.

Right. It is time for the toss, and the first big news is that Healy is out in the middle alongside Harmanpreet.

The Australians won the toss and chose to bat first.

Why has India forgotten to win the toss in recent times?

Harmanpreet Kaur: We were looking to bat first, if we get early breakthrough that would be great for us. We know this pitch, we had so many camps here and also played our last 2 games here. Whenever we play Australia, we talk about going with a fearless mindset. Unfortunately, Pratika is not there because of her injury.

Alyssa Healy: We gonna have bat. Great conditions here and opportunity for us to put runs on the board. I am grateful for the opportunity to get that 10-day break for the rehab. It is a semi final and it's basically whoever plays better will get the result. Just one other change. Sophie Molineux comes in for Wareham.

Australia Women have won the toss and have opted to bat