The ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 Semifinal is here, as India gears up to face the seemingly unbeatable Australia. For India, this is a significant moment, marking their first appearance in the knockouts since the 2017 tournament.
The challenge is immense. Australia has an overwhelming record, having won 49 of their 60 matches against India, with the Women in Blue only winning 11, and they are aiming for a milestone 50th win. Their recent dominance is clear, winning 10 of their last 11 ODIs against India, including a tight three-wicket win earlier in this World Cup after India let the match slip from their grasp.
The Aussies enter this match on an astonishing 15-game winning streak in the competition, a run that spans both the 2022 and 2025 World Cups. This match also marks Australia’s 100th World Cup ODI, a tournament where they have historically excelled, winning 9 of their 11 semi-final matches.
While Australia has won the last two World Cup matches against India, the last knockout meeting gives India hope: a crucial 36-run victory in the 2017 semi-final. Overall, in World Cup knockouts, Australia leads India with 2 wins to 1.
India's star batter, Smriti Mandhana, will be crucial. She has been on a tear against Australia, with three centuries and two half-centuries in her last five ODI innings, and sits just short of former captain Mithali Raj's record for most career runs in this rivalry with 996 against the Aussies.
The battle of the all-rounders is key. Australia’s Annabel Sutherland (114 runs, 15 wickets) and India’s Deepti Sharma (133 runs, 15 wickets) were the only players in the group stage to excel with both bat and ball. Sutherland’s bowling average of 15.6 against India is the best by any bowler in the rivalry, highlighted by her recent career-best figures of 5-40.
Both teams share a love for aggressive batting, reflected by their low dot ball rates (Australia 48%, India 50%) and getting over half their runs from boundaries. On the bowling front, Australia starts strong, dismissing 31 batters within their first 20 balls, the most of any team, and losing fewer early wickets themselves (Australia 17 vs. India 18).
India, which has won just one of their last four ODIs at home, faces a daunting task against an Australian side on a seven-match winning streak away from home. For India, which has won three of its seven previous knockout matches, India needs the 2017 magic to shine through again.
