Match: 2nd Semifinal, ICC Women’s World Cup 2025
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM IST (9:30 AM GMT)
Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
Toss: Yet to be conducted
Live Streaming: JioHotstar (app and website)
TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network
The Big Showdown
India and Australia meet again in a high-stakes semifinal that brings back memories of 2017. Eight years ago, Harmanpreet Kaur played one of the greatest innings in cricket history—171 not out off 115 balls—to help India beat Australia and reach the World Cup final. Now, the two teams face each other in another knockout match, with a spot in the final on the line.
Australia enter as favorites. They topped the group stage with six wins from seven matches and remain the only undefeated team in the tournament. India, meanwhile, scraped into the semifinals in fourth place after an up-and-down campaign.
Expected Playing XIs
India Women (Likely XI)
Source: ESPNcricinfo, ICC Official
- Smriti Mandhana
- Shafali Verma
- Harleen Deol
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Deepti Sharma
- Sneh Rana
- Kranti Gaud
- Shree Charani
- Renuka Singh
Key Change: Shafali Verma has been called up to replace Pratika Rawal, who suffered an injury while fielding against Bangladesh. Rawal was India’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 308 runs. Shafali will open alongside Smriti Mandhana and brings an aggressive style that could unsettle Australia’s bowlers.
Richa Ghosh, who missed the Bangladesh match due to a finger injury, has recovered and is expected to keep wickets.
Australia Women (Likely XI)
Source: ICC Official, Cricket Australia
- Alyssa Healy (c/wk)
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Ellyse Perry
- Beth Mooney
- Annabel Sutherland
- Ashleigh Gardner
- Tahlia McGrath
- Georgia Wareham
- Alana King
- Kim Garth
- Megan Schutt
Big News: Alyssa Healy has passed her fitness test after missing the last two league matches with a calf injury. The Australian captain looked sharp in training, completing wicketkeeping drills and a full net session. Her return is a massive boost for the defending champions.
Players to Watch
| Team | Batters | Bowlers |
|---|---|---|
| India | Smriti Mandhana (365 runs, tournament’s leading scorer), Shafali Verma (X-factor opener) | Deepti Sharma (15 wickets, joint-highest), Renuka Singh (key pace bowler) |
| Australia | Alyssa Healy (294 runs at average of 98, strike rate 131.25), Ashleigh Gardner (2 centuries) | Annabel Sutherland (15 wickets, leading wicket-taker), Alana King (13 wickets, including 7/18 vs South Africa) |
Venue & Pitch Report
Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
Capacity: 45,000
The DY Patil Stadium pitch is excellent for batting. It offers good bounce and consistent pace, making it easy for batters to play their shots. The surface is flat, which usually leads to high-scoring games.
Fast bowlers can get some early movement, but spinners become more important in the middle and later stages. The boundaries are relatively short (60-70 meters), which favors big hitters.
The pitch used for this semifinal is the same one where Sri Lanka played Bangladesh—a brown, grassless track that produced runs freely.
Toss Factor: Teams batting first have won both ODI matches played at this venue during the tournament. Winning the toss could be crucial, as chasing a big total in a semifinal adds extra pressure.
Weather Forecast
Source: AccuWeather
The weather in Navi Mumbai is a concern. There is a 25% chance of rain during the match and a 3-4% chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures will be around 32°C (high) and 25°C (low).
Navi Mumbai has experienced unseasonal rain in late October, which has already caused one washout (India vs Bangladesh). However, safeguards are in place:
- Extra time: Up to 120 additional minutes beyond the scheduled finish
- Reserve Day: October 31, 2025
If no result is possible even after the reserve day, Australia will advance to the final as they finished higher in the group stage.
Head-to-Head & Recent Form
In their league stage meeting earlier this tournament, Australia chased down a record 330 runs to beat India by three wickets. Alyssa Healy smashed 142 in that chase.
Australia have won their last 15 ODI World Cup matches stretching back to 2022. They have also won seven straight away ODIs. India, on the other hand, have won only one of their last four home ODIs—but that win came against New Zealand in their most recent match.
What to Expect
Australia are the clear favorites, but India have shown they can compete. The hosts will need their openers—Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma—to fire, and their bowlers, especially Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh, must strike early.
For Australia, Alyssa Healy’s return adds firepower and leadership. With Annabel Sutherland and Alana King in terrific form, their all-round strength makes them tough to beat.
Expect a high-scoring contest on a batting-friendly pitch. The toss will play a big role, and the team that handles pressure better will likely reach the final.
Prediction: Australia are favorites given their unbeaten run and depth. However, if Harmanpreet Kaur can channel her 2017 magic and Shafali Verma provides a flying start, India can pull off an upset at home.
Final Thought: This semifinal has all the ingredients of a classic—star players, knockout pressure, and history between the two teams. Cricket fans are in for a treat!