India-W all set to square off against Australia in World Cup semi-final

The big day has finally arrived as India gear up for their ICC Women's World Cup 2025 semi-final challenge against the mighty Australia. Securing a win against New Zealand in their penultimate group stage encounter, India secured their semi-final berth. However, they copped a major blow in the form of Pratika Rawal being injured in their last battle against Bangladesh.

Shafali Verma has been named as Rawal's replacement and will, in all likelihood, open the batting with Smriti Mandhana. Apart from Rawal, the rest of the Indian team looks in fine fettle, hoping to take on the Aussies with intent. Smriti Mandhana, who currently is leading the scoring charts, has been in dream form and will be hoping to continue that same run.

India will need support from their middle-order which might witness Jemimah being a part of it after a fabulous knock against the White Ferns. However, Australia and New Zealand are two drastically different opponents and will need separate strategies if India is to make the cut for the final.

In the last two matches played by India against Australia, the show that they have put up with the bat has been electric. Posting scores of 369 and 330 on the bounce against the mighty Aussies is no easy feat and the Women in Blue will be hoping to carry the same momentum forward.

However, with the kind of batting depth that Australia has, the Indian bowlers will have to bring out their A-Game to sustain themselves. Australia has been the only undefeated team in the tournament so far, winning six games out of their seven group stage fixtures while one got washed away. The momentum in their tanks is unparalleled and they will be hopeful that they can bring it to the mix to trouble India.

Venue Watch:

Navi Mumbai continues to be a batting friendly surface and once again, it can prove to be the epicentre of another high-octane runfest. Both the teams are blessed with quality batting and that can have a direct effect on the fabric of the fixture.

Match details:

Match - India vs Australia, ICC Women's ODI World Cup

Venue – DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai

Date – 30th October, 2025

Time - 3:00 PM

Head-to-head:

Matches played - 60

India - 11

Australia - 49

Squads:

India:

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Shree Charani

Australia:

Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham