ODI Women's World Cup 2025: Can India beat the best team in the world today?

When India take on defending champions Australia in the ICC Womenrsquos Cricket World Cup semifinal at the DY Patil Stadium today they would do well to recall skipper Harmanpreet Kaurrsquos heroics against the same opposition at the 2017 World Cup semifinal in Derby Kaur hammered a 115ball 171 not out as the Indians beat the Australians by 36 runs That was the last time the Indian womenrsquos team beat Australia at a World CupAussies chase eighth titleThe Australian women have been one of the most dominant forces in international cricket Since 1973 there have been 12 completed editions of the World Cup and Australia have won seven 1978 1982 1988 1997 2005 2013 2022 They hold the record for the most World Cup match wins 85 Currently they are on a 15match winning streak at World Cups since 2022 The West Indies menrsquos teams of the 1970s 80s and early 90s were considered invincible but even they havenrsquot enjoyed such success at World CupsAt the current World Cup the Australians have won six of their seven league matches They chased down a womenrsquos ODI record of 331 against India Skipper Alyssa Healy and top batter Ashleigh Gardner have both scored two centuries each while legspinner Alana King picked 718 the best figures in the tournamentrsquos history against South Africa Against India the Australian women have emerged victorious in 10 out of their last 11 ODI meetings Adding to Team Indiarsquos woes is the absence of inform opener Pratika Rawal she has scored 308 runs in six matches so far who is out injured However there are quite a few other batters who can step up when the chips are downFrom left India opener Shafali Verma during a practice session in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday middle Indiarsquos Harleen Deol trains at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on the eve of the semifinal right Mumbai girl Jemimah Rodrigues hits one during a practice session on Wednesday PicsAtul KambleSmriti Mandhana is Indiarsquos top rungetter in the competition with 365 runs Then there is wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh who has collected 175 runs Also Harleen Deol has aggregated 169 runs while Mumbai girl Jemimah Rodrigues has scored 141 runs so far And of course skipper Kaur has been impressive too with her tally of 151 runs Adding to this list is Rawalrsquos replacement opener Shafali Verma who has just been drafted into the team and will most probably open the innings with Mandhana on ThursdayVerma is known to be a bighitter and has given India many good starts in the past However coming into the competition at such a crucial juncture can mean extra pressure But Shafali 21 who has been a part of three T20I World Cups and one ODI World Cup scored 107 runs in four games in 202122 World Cup in New Zealand reckoned that playing a big semifinal is not new to herldquoThis playing in a semifinal is not new for me because Irsquove played many semifinals before Itrsquos just a matter of keeping my mind clear and giving myself confidence Irsquove been in such situations earlier so Irsquoll just keep telling myself to stay calm and believe in my abilities Irsquoll do well mdash 200 per centrdquo Shafali India said at the prematch press conference on Wednesday Shafali had a lengthy practice session in the nets on Tuesday evening and seemed to be enjoying her batting effortlessly going for her big hits between the deep midwicket and longon regionWhen midday asked her to assess the Australian bowling attack led by pacer Annabel Sutherland 15 wickets at this World Cup and legspinner Alana King 13 wickets Shafali shot back ldquoIrsquove played against Australia many times so theyrsquore not new to me I know their bowlers and their styles Irsquoll back my strengths Yes theyrsquoll come hard at us but wersquove prepared a lot and everyone is in good touch Hopefully wersquoll perform well Wersquove made it to the semifinals and everyone knows that we have to give 200 per cent because therersquos no second chance mdash itrsquos a knockoutrdquolsquoItrsquos all about nervesrsquoMeanwhile Australia womenrsquos team head coach Shelley Nitschke reckoned it will be a tough highpressure contest ldquoThe semifinals are anyonersquos game I donrsquot think we go in as the favourites or the underdogs I think itrsquos a pretty level playing field It promises to be an exciting match a good contest I think the team that holds its nerve and is able to overcome that pressure should be successfulrdquo said Nitschke