The Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has reached an exciting juncture. Today, the second semi-final of the tournament is being played between India (IND-W) and Australia (AUS-W) at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
Sports News: India is set to face Australia in the second semi-final of the Women's ODI World Cup on Thursday, a clash that will be nothing short of a final for Team India. Having reached the last four on the back of some luck in the tournament, the Indian team now faces its best adversary. Historically, India's performance against Australia in the ODI World Cup has been weak, making this challenge even tougher.
The team suffered a setback when its opening batter was injured and ruled out of the tournament. However, there's good news for the team with the return of Shafali Verma. She has rejoined the Indian squad after almost a year. All eyes are now on whether Shafali will get a place in the playing XI for this crucial match.
Australia's Tough Challenge Against India
Despite an inconsistent performance in this World Cup, the Indian women's team has reached the semi-finals with a bit of luck. On the other hand, the Australian team has been undefeated in the tournament and holds the top spot in the points table. For India, this match will be like a "final before the final," as India's performance against Australia in the Women's ODI World Cup has not been particularly impressive to date.
India's biggest challenge will be to withstand Australia's b batting lineup and their precise bowling. While Australian captain Alyssa Healy and all-rounder Tahlia McGrath are in excellent form, the Indian team will be hoping that players like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma shine today.
Shafali Verma Returns in Place of Pratika Rawal
Team India has suffered a major blow ahead of this crucial match. Opener Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury. Shafali Verma has been included in the squad as her replacement. Shafali has returned to the ODI team after almost a year. It will be interesting to see if captain Harmanpreet Kaur gives her an opportunity in the playing XI.
The team management believes that Shafali's aggressive batting style can put pressure on Australian bowlers in the initial overs, which could prove decisive for India.
When and Where to Watch IND-W vs AUS-W Semi-Final?
- Match Date: October 30, 2025 (Thursday)
- Venue: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
- Match Time: 3:00 PM (IST)
- Toss Time: 2:30 PM (IST)
- TV Broadcast: The India vs Australia Women's World Cup semi-final is being telecast live on the Star Sports Network.
- Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar apps. Cricket enthusiasts can enjoy the match on mobile, laptop, or smart TV.
- Global Audience: Viewers residing outside India can watch the match live via ICC.tv and various local broadcasting partners.
Navi Mumbai Weather Report: Rain Becomes the Biggest Concern for the Match
According to AccuWeather, Navi Mumbai will experience cloudy weather today with a possibility of light rain. The city has seen intermittent rainfall over the past few days, which has also affected the ground conditions. However, the probability of rain at the start of the match, i.e., 3 PM, is only 7%. But it might increase by evening.
- 3:00 PM — 7%
- 4:00 PM — 7%
- 5:00 PM — 7%
- 6:00 PM — 7%
- 7:00 PM — 6%
- 8:00 PM — 6%
If rain interrupts the match, it could significantly impact the outcome. According to ICC rules, a reserve day has been allocated for all knockout matches of the Women's World Cup 2025. If the semi-final cannot be completed on October 30, the match will resume on the following day, October 31. However, if the match cannot be played even on the reserve day, the Australian women's team will advance directly to the final, as they are above India in the points table.
- Australia: 13 points, Net Run Rate +2.102
- India: 7 points, Net Run Rate +0.628
In this scenario, the Indian team's tournament journey could end without playing, which would be a huge disappointment for fans. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur said before the match, "We know Australia is a b team, but our girls know how to handle pressure. In the semi-finals, we need our best performance."
