India face Australia in blockbuster Women’s World Cup semifinal

Hosts India will take on Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai this afternoon.

The blockbuster semifinal is scheduled to get underway at 3:00 p.m.

While Australia, still undefeated in the tournament, are on the hunt for a record-extending eighth Women’s ODI World Cup title, India will be hoping to make home advantage count and go all the way for the first time.

The two teams also met in the group stage, with Australia, the top ranked team in women’s ODIs, chasing down a record total to beat world No. 3 India by three wickets in a high-scoring match.

Alyssa Healy, the Player of the Match in Visakhapatnam with a scintillating century, however, has missed Australia’s last two group games due to a calf strain and the Aussie skipper’s involvement in today’s match is still in doubt.

Healy is still Australia’s top scorer in the tournament with 294 from four matches. Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney have also been among the runs.

One player who is certain to miss the semis and the rest of the tournament is Indian opener Pratika Rawal, who injured her ankle while fielding against Bangladesh last week.

The 25-year-old Indian cricketer’s absence will be a big blow for Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. as Rawal is the second-highest run scorer in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, only behind fellow opener and teammate Smriti Mandhana.

Shafali Verma has been named as Rawal’s replacement in the squad, while Amanjot Kaur, Harleen Deol, Uma Chetry and Jemimah Rodrigues are the other options to fill up as Mandhana’s partner at the top of the order.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who missed the Bangladesh fixture after a finger injury, is also a doubt for the semis from the India camp.

Australia also boast two of the three top wicket-takers in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup with Annabel Sutherland (15) and Alana King (13) in their ranks.

All-rounder Deepti Sharma, joint-leader in the most wickets standings with Sutherland, has been India’s standout bowler.

India vs Australia Women’s ODI head-to-head record

The head-to-head ODI record between the two teams is tilted overwhelmingly in favour of Australia, who have won 49 of the 60 matches between the two teams as opposed to India’s 11 victories.

The trend continues at World Cups as well with the Aussies winning 10 matches, including the 2005 final. India have emerged on top on just three occasions. One game was washed out.

This will be the third India vs Australia semi-final in Women’s ODI World Cup history.

Australia won the fixture in Delhi back in 1997 but the 2017 semis in Derby saw India produce one of its biggest upset wins as Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 171 guided them to a famous and rare 36-run victory.

Women’s Cricket ODI World Cup 2025: India vs Australia squads

Indian cricket team: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice captain), Uma Chetry (wicket-keeper), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana.

Australian cricket team: Alyssa Healy (captain/wicket-keeper), Tahlia McGrath (vice captain), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux (wicket-keeper), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

- Agencies