All eyes are on the DY Patil Cricket Stadium in Navi Mumbai as it prepares to host the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semi-final showdown between India and Australia on October 30. This encounter is a significant rematch, echoing the 2017 semi-final where India famously defeated Australia to advance. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team will be eager to recreate that magic against the reigning champions.
Australia has been a dominant force throughout the World Cup, securing the top spot in their group with six victories. Under Alyssa Healy’s leadership, the team has showcased exceptional skill and power. Healy, who recently recovered from an injury, is likely to feature, pending a final assessment on the morning of the match.
India, on their part, has displayed periods of outstanding performance alongside a struggle for consistent execution. In a lineup change, Shafali Verma will open the innings in place of the injured Pratika Rawal, injecting a fearless approach at the start of the innings. The experienced trio of Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Harmanpreet Kaur will be crucial for India’s batting, with Deepti Sharma and Sree Charani leading the bowling attack.
The pitch at DY Patil Stadium is known for its batting-friendly characteristics, forecasting a run-fest for the spectators. Spin bowlers are also expected to play a significant role, as the surface offers turn. Given the conditions, chasing a target in the second innings is likely to be advantageous, especially with potential dew, making the toss a very important element of the game strategy.