The highly anticipated Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 group-stage match between Australia and India is underway at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India. Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first, putting India in to bat in front of a sold-out crowd.
Team News and Context
Australia made one change to their lineup, bringing in Sophie Molineux in place of Georgia Wareham. India, however, remained unchanged from their previous match against South Africa. Hosts India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, have won two and lost one of their matches in the tournament so far. The defending champions, Australia, captained by Alyssa Healy, have also won two games, with one of their matches being abandoned due to rain.
Alyssa Healy acknowledged the growing rivalry between Australia and India, referring to India as a "sleeping giant" in women's cricket. She also highlighted the role of the Women's Premier League T20 tournament in helping India discover new talent and develop a suitable playing style.
Match Situation
As of the 11th over, India were 60-0. Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal started strong, dominating the powerplay. Molineux was brought into the attack, and Mandhana responded aggressively, hitting her for a four and a six.
Tournament Context
The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 is the 13th edition of the 50-over tournament, featuring eight teams. All teams will play each other once in a round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 29 and 30, with the final on November 2. The tournament is being held in a hybrid model across India and Sri Lanka. Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Indore, and Visakhapatnam are the Indian venues, while Colombo is the sole Sri Lankan venue.
Australia, with seven titles, is the most successful team in Women's World Cup history, while India is still seeking their first trophy.
India's Performance and Qualification
India suffered a setback in their previous match, losing to South Africa. Despite the loss, India's semi-final qualification remains in their own hands, requiring them to win at least three of their remaining four matches. Their upcoming matches include games against Australia, England, and New Zealand.
Teams
Key players for India include Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), and Deepti Sharma. Australia's squad includes Alyssa Healy (captain), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, and Megan Schutt.
