India Women will face Australia Women in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 on Thursday. The much-anticipated encounter between the two powerhouses will decide who joins South Africa in the final. Both sides enter the knockout stage with very different forms and momentum.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s young Indian team will look to avenge their earlier defeat to Australia in the league stage. They will aim to pull off an upset against the six-time champions, who remain the tournament favourites.

India’s Journey: Promise and Challenges

India’s campaign has been filled with both promise and inconsistency. The team suffered losses to England, South Africa, and Australia but managed to secure a crucial victory over New Zealand. That win confirmed their semi-final qualification as they finished fourth in the group standings.

However, the side suffered a setback when opener Pratika Rawal injured herself during the match against Bangladesh. To fill the gap, the selectors brought back Shafali Verma, known for her attacking batting style. India will now rely heavily on experienced players like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur to deliver in this must-win clash.

Australia’s Unbeaten Run and Dominance

Australia, led by Alyssa Healy, have looked the most complete and balanced team in the competition. Despite facing a few close finishes, they showed remarkable calm and depth to stay unbeaten in the group stage. The reigning champions once again start as strong favourites, but India’s fearless approach and familiarity with home conditions could make this semi-final a thrilling contest.

During the league phase, the seven-time champions chased down India’s 330 all out, winning by three wickets in a high-scoring game. The winner of Thursday’s match will meet South Africa, who stormed into their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup final after a dominant 125-run victory over England.

High Expectations Ahead

With South Africa already in the final, all eyes will be on the India–Australia clash. Australia aim to defend their crown, while India will hope to make history by reaching the final for the first time since 2017.

Weather Report

According to AccuWeather and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Navi Mumbai could experience 40% chances of rain on Thursday afternoon. Cloudy skies and light drizzle are expected to continue into the evening.

Humidity levels will remain high at around 70%, which could make conditions tricky, especially under the floodlights. The weather forecast also mentions a 3–4% chance of thunderstorms, while temperatures are likely to stay between 25°C and 32°C. Wet outfields and slippery surfaces could become a major concern for both teams.

Pitch Report

The stadium has hosted two ODI games so far, and in both, the team batting first emerged victorious. Hence, the toss will be crucial. The side winning the toss is expected to bat first, as chasing a large total in a semi-final could prove difficult under pressure.

Squads

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

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