Women's WC Preview | India gear up for ultimate home World Cup semis showdown against Aussies in Mumbai

The World Cup was always meant to boil down to this. Australia, as always, had walked in as clear favourites, so much so that the thought of them not reclaiming the crown could be mistaken for blasphemy. But for the first time in years, they had a clear rival for the title unlike the usual pack of three of four, one of whom hopes to come up good when their chance inevitably arrives against the Women from Down Under in a knockout stage. India had walked in with a a team settled enough to threaten to take the world by storm, led by the last woman that had managed to take Australia down on the World Cup stage with a 171* in Harmanpreet Kaur, with the most prolific opener in world cricket Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.

The league stages did not pan out that way though, as India managed to defeat none of the eventual semi-finalists, but still somehow managed to run the Women from Down Under the closest. The tourists had to not just pull off the greatest chase in World Cups but in Women's ODI history, and it took an all-time great knock from their leader Alyssa Healy as well as a rearguard show from perhaps their best all-rounder ever in Ellyse Perry to get the job done. And in doing so, India relayed a statement of intent to their rivals even if it was an addition to a growing list of near misses against the dominant force.

Since the defeat, India have only grown in confidence. Smriti is back in full flight, as two 80s followed by a ton and an unbeaten knock against Bangladesh have been enough to take her to the second rung in the run-scoring charts with top spot there for the taking. Jemimah Rodrigues has put a brief lean patch behind her with a match-winning unbeaten 76 against New Zealand, Harmanpreet has shown signs of returning to form with a crucial 70 against England albeit in a losing cause, and Renuka Singh is back causing havoc with fresh new Kookaburras. Such is the aura of Australia that all these stars could fire simultaneously and still could come-up short, which is exactly the kind of pessimistic mental outset India will be keen to avoid come the semi-final. Even if it might actually take a miracle to blow them through to a home World Cup final.     

Form Guide

The journey to the semi-final has been far from smooth sailing for India, with the hosts losing three on the trot to their fellow semi-finalists midway through the tournament. However, comfortable wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka to begin, and a comprehensive thumping of New Zealand in a virtual quarter-final means they did just enough to finish fourth on the table with a net run rate of 0.628. Their last match against Bangladesh was called off after a second-string India were 57/0 chasing 126 in a 27-over dead rubber, but the performance will help inject confidence all the same.

Australia, unsurprisingly, are unbeaten in the tournament so far despite being run close on several occassions. They pulled off the highest-ever run-chase against India in Women's ODI history, pursued 245 against England in just 40.3 overs despite being 68/4, and recovered from 76/7 to 221/9 against Pakistan enroute to a 107-run win. The team has lost eight ODIs in the last seven years and continues to be at its imperious best as far as form is concerned. 

India: NR W L L L

Australia: W W W W W

IND vs AUS Head-to-Head in WODIs

India, like every other team in world cricket, have a downright sad record against Australia with just 11 wins under their belt in 60 completed ODIs. However, 10 of those have come this century, including four since 2010 which is rather impressive in the context of their rivals' might even if it may not read such. To add further optimism, Australia's only ODI loss this year also came against India, in the three-match series immediately before the World Cup where they were battered by 43 runs in Delhi. The Women in Blue also ran them close in the league stage, putting up 330 before succumbing to a two-wicket loss courtesy of some rearguard action by the tail.   

IND 11-49 AUS

Pitch and Weather

Two matches have been completed at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai this World Cup -- the first a low-scoring affair where Sri Lanka defended 2022 against Bangladesh, and the latter a high-scoring belter where India struck 340 against New Zealand enroute to a 53-run DLS win. The latter is the more typical of occurrences at the venue, with short boundaries and batting-friendly surfaces aiding stroke play. However, at its core lies South African soil and without overcast conditions also a possiblity, the seam bowlers might have a decisive role to play too especially with the new ball.

Following early morning showers, Accuweather forecasts predict hazy sunshine persisting through the day and giving way to a cloudy evening albeit without any rain. Humidity levels will inevitably be high while the temperature is expected to hover around the 30 degrees Celsius mark and gradully decrease as the sun sets on the horizon. 

Team News

After giving their bench players a run around in their final league stage match against Bangladesh, India will return to their strongest XI for the semi-final with the exception of Pratika Rawal who has been ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury. Her replacement Shafali Varma is expected to swap straight in as a like-for-like alongside Smriti Mandhana, which means Amanjot Kaur will miss out once again lest Sneh Rana makes way.

Australia will be majorly boosted by the return of Alyssa Healy after missing their last two games with a calf issue. She will take back opening duties from back-up Georgia Voll, captaincy from Tahlia McGrath, and the gloves from Beth Mooney. The only other change the Kangaroos will deliberate is bringing back Sophie Molineux in place of Georgia Wareham, both bowlers having played three games each in the tournament so far, with Molineux featuring in the league stage against India and scalping 3/75 alongside a crucial 18-run cameo.  

IndiaProbable: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Varma, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud

Australia Probable: Alyssa Healy (c/wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Kim Garth      

Broadcasting Platforms

The Women's World Cup is being telecast in India on the Star Sports Network and is available for digital broadcast on JioHotstar. Ball-by-ball commentary and live updates for the tournament are being provided by ESPN Cricinfo and Cricbuzz.