Clinging to their World Cup hopes by the skin of their teeth, India will be hoping for a spark of magic, perhaps something reminiscent of Harmanpreet Kaur’s iconic 171 not out from the 2017 semifinal when they meet the mighty Australia in Thursday’s second World Cup semifinal at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Harmanpreet’s breathtaking innings in Derby not only dismantled the Australians but also marked a turning point for Indian women’s cricket. Eight years later, the context feels eerily similar, with a captain searching for inspiration after a few inconsistent performances in a crunch knockout affair that could further elevate the status of women’s cricket in the country.
After enduring a tense group stage that saw them lose three consecutive matches, India clawed their way into the semifinals, showing grit and belief in equal measure with a commanding win against New Zealand. But the challenge now is tougher, both in opposition and expectation. With key batter Pratika Rawal, the second-highest run-getter for the side, ruled out due to an ankle injury, the hosts must also resolve critical selection dilemmas before stepping onto the field.
Barely 72 hours before the match, Shafali Verma was drafted into the side as a replacement, raising eyebrows as she wasn’t even in the reserves list. Shafali’s aggressive batting could inject early momentum, especially if paired with the in-form Smriti Mandhana, who has been India’s batting backbone this tournament with 365 runs at 60.83, including a century and two fifties. However, the numbers don’t favour the pairing, Shafali and Mandhana have averaged 37.20 in 25 innings together, far below the 78.21 average that Mandhana shared with Rawal.
The team management could also elevate Harleeen Deol to the opening slot, considering the right-hander’s composure and ability to anchor innings offer a safer balance. She has so far amassed 169 runs in seven games, but her stability could allow Mandhana the freedom to attack, while also enabling the inclusion of a sixth bowling option, a strategy India might need against the deep Australian line-up.
For Harmanpreet, whose bat has been largely quiet this tournament, this match presents the perfect stage to rediscover her spark. Jemimah Rodrigues has been in decent form with the bat, and the team management will expect her to continue in the same vein against the Aussies.
The bowling department faces its own balancing act. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav’s sharp fielding and disciplined spells against Bangladesh may give her the edge over Sneh Rana, who has struggled for rhythm, conceding 201 runs for just one wicket in her last three outings.
Australia, meanwhile, continue to be the benchmark in world cricket. Ruthlessly efficient, they’ve shown the ability to both dominate and recover under pressure. Their comeback wins against Pakistan and England, and their demolition of South Africa in the final group stage game, underlines a team that thrives in every situation.
Fitness concerns linger for captain Alyssa Healy, who is racing against time to recover from injury after missing the last two games, while Beth Mooney trained with the gloves on Tuesday, signalling a potential wicketkeeping shuffle. But regardless of personnel, Australia remain a side built on depth and discipline, and it would require a special effort from the home side to beat them.
With Alyssa Healy expected to return for the semifinal, Australia will be eager to have their regular captain back at the top of the order. Healy has scored centuries in each of her last two innings against Bangladesh and India, and her presence brings both stability and firepower. While Phoebe Litchfield’s unbeaten 84 against Bangladesh was a timely contribution, the young batter has endured a lean run through this World Cup.
There are, however, concerns over Tahlia McGrath’s form. Standing in for Healy over the past two games, McGrath has managed just 43 runs in six innings, far below her usual standards. Yet, Australia’s depth remains their greatest strength. With the all-round brilliance of Ashleigh Gardner (265 runs, including two centuries, and seven wickets), Annabel Sutherland (114 runs and 15 wickets), and Alana King (13 wickets and useful lower-order runs), the defending champions truly are the side to beat in this World Cup.
Teams:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Uma Chetry (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Harleen Deol, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shree Charani, Radha Yadav.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c&wk), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Sophie Molineux, Annabel Sutherland, Darcie Brown, Megan Schutt, Georgia Wareham.