ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: India vs Australia

After defeating co-hosts Sri Lanka and arch-rivals Pakistan in their first two matches of the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, India gets ready to face fellow favorites Australia at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vishakapatnam on Sunday, October 12.

Both teams went at loggerheads in an intense three-match ODI series ahead of the World Cup, and while the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side emerged second-best in that series, it’s going to be a high-energy affair on the biggest stage of women’s cricket. 

In the first two WODIs in New Chandigarh, India figured out that they would require six bowling options to put a well-rounded Australian batting order under pressure. If Amanjot Kaur is passed fit for the game against Australia, she could replace Jemimah Rodrigues in the playing XI to hand India another bowling option while maintaining the batting depth.

Let’s have a look at how both teams head into the crucial contest and which matchups could define the result of the match on Sunday:

How the Teams Are Positioned Ahead of the Clash

While Australia has lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy on seven different occasions, the Women in Blue are still chasing a maiden World Cup trophy and lifting the same in front of their own fans would be an epic achievement.

India has started the tournament with two consecutive wins against neighbors Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but their first real test in the tournament will come in the form of defending champions Australia.

Before facing the Southern Stars in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, India would face South Africa at the same stadium on Thursday, which would help Harmanpreet & co get a better read of the conditions at the venue.

While that could work in favor of the hosts, a potential upset against South Africa could derail the confidence and motivation the team has acquired after starting the tournament with two wins on the bounce.

Like India, Australia started their 2025 Women’s World Cup campaign with a win against New Zealand by 89 runs. At the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Alyssa Healy & co found themselves in deep waters as they were 128/5, and Ashleigh Garden’s brisk century, along with lower-order contributions from Tahila McGrath and Kim Garth, saved the Australian innings.

Their trans-Tasmanian rivals, New Zealand, also had a bad start as both opening batters, Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, were dismissed on a duck. The Kiwis’ skipper Sophie Devine scored a century but failed to get adequate support except for a couple of cameos as Australia wrapped up a 89-run win. Their next match against Sri Lanka was washed out due to rain.

Key Matchups Shaping the Powerplay and Middle Overs

Modern cricket is often defined by matchups and how clutch players handle the pressure against a specific bowler or batter in key overs of the clash.

#1 Smriti Mandhana’s hot form against Australia & recent returns

Coming into the tournament on the back of two consecutive centuries against Australia, Smriti Mandhana would be eyeing to make another big score against the defending champions to get her groove back. 

The southpaw has had middling returns in the first two matches as seamers got the better of her in both games, but the Indian vice-captain would be motivated to play a statement innings against the mighty Australians.

While Mandhana’s innings of 117 runs off 91 balls in New Chandigarh contained 14 boundaries and 4 maximums, helping India level the series, the southpaw seriously upped the ante in the series-decider as she scored the fastest century in ODIs by an Indian batter, breaking Virat Kohli’s record.

Played at Kohli’s home ground in New Delhi, the third ODI witnessed Smriti scoring 125 runs off 63 balls at a mind-blowing strike rate of 198.41 as the innings contained 17 boundaries and 5 maximums.

The likes of Megan Schutt and Kim Garth, along with support from Annabel Sutherland and Tahila McGrath, would be pivotal in countering the threat posed by Mandhana and her opening partner, Pratika Rawal, in the powerplay overs.

#2 Phoebe, Healy, Mooney, & Perry vs Kranti Gaud & Renuka Thakur

Australia has the most explosive top-order in the tournament with the dynamic Phoebe Litchfield, skipper Healy, lynchpin Beth Mooney, and the ever-reliable Ellyse Perry taking the first four spots.

With four consistent and explosive batters, India’s seam duo of Kranti Gaud and Renuka Singh Thakur would have to be on their A-game to disturb the batters’ rhythm. Gaud’s exceptional spell of 3/20 in 10 overs earned her the Player of the Match award against Pakistan, while the youngster also earned her side the first breakthrough in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka.

Renuka Singh Thakur had a great game against Pakistan on Sunday

Thakur made her comeback to the playing XI in the second match due to Amanjot Kaur’s unavailability, and it would be interesting to see whether Amanjot replaces Renuka or Rodrigues when she returns to the playing XI to add more batting depth to the team.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru fast bowler impressed with the new ball as Thakur and Gaud tightened the noose around the Pakistani batting order in the powerplay overs. Even if the pace duo don’t pick wickets, they keep it tight and force the batters to go hard at the spinners, which ultimately works in favor of the Women in Blue.

#3 India’s middle-order vs Australia’s variety of bowling options

With the Indian top order failing to fire in the first two games of the ongoing tournament, the middle order stars had to step up to the plate and deliver the goods when required. Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana have made crucial contributions with both bat and ball in both matches, while Amanjot Kaur’s all-round show was instrumental in winning against Sri Lanka. 

Jemimah Rodrigues has not had the perfect start to her World Cup career, but the middle-order batter could salvage her form if given an opportunity. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur would also like to contribute more after scoring 40 runs in the two matches, while Richa Ghosh counter-attacked in the death overs against Pakistan to make a vital contribution.

Against the Indian middle order would be a plethora of bowling options available for skipper Alyssa Healy to rotate for the 50 overs. While many teams strive to have six bowling options, and having seven bowling options is considered a luxury, Healy has eight bowling options in her playing XI.

Three of those eight bowlers are ranked second, third, and fourth in the ICC ODI bowler rankings, with Gardner, Megan Schutt, and Garth occupying those places respectively, while wrist-spinner Alana King also features in the Top 10, claiming the eighth rank on the elite list.

Predicted Playing XIs

India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur ©, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur

Australia: Alyssa Healy © (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahila McGrath, Kim Garth, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Darcie Brown

Prediction

Australia would definitely head into the encounter as strong favorites, but the defending champions would be aware of the fact that India could snatch the two points on offer if their batting order could put up a big score on the board in the first innings.