India vs Australia: High-Stakes Clash in ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

Its India vs Australia, the 13th match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 features hosts India against seven-time champions Australia on October 12 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

Starting at 3:30 PM IST, this day-night encounter could shape both teams’ paths to the semifinals. India, third in the standings with 4 points from three games, seeks recovery from a recent loss against South Africa, while Australia leads with 5 points.

Australia Women enter tomorrow’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 clash as clear favorites, buoyed by their unbeaten tournament streak and longstanding dominance over India in ODIs. Yet, the hosts’ familiarity with home conditions and a potent spin arsenal could spark a fiercely competitive encounter.

The Visakhapatnam pitch, known for offering grip to spinners in the middle and later overs, may tilt the balance toward India if their top order regains stability. Although the odds lean toward an Australian victory, India’s proven lower-order fightback keeps the door open for an exciting clash.

India’s spin attack, led by Deepti Sharma, remains a major asset on turning pitches, but top-order inconsistencies need addressing. Complementing the spinners, emerging pacer Kranti Goud has added firepower to India’s bowling lineup .

Team Form and Standings

India started strongly with wins over Sri Lanka (59 runs) and Pakistan (88 runs) but faltered against South Africa, exposing batting vulnerabilities. Australia dominated New Zealand (89 runs) and Pakistan (107 runs), with their match against Sri Lanka abandoned.

Current points table:

The 2025 edition, hosted across India from September 27 to October 19, sees eight teams competing in a round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the semifinals.

Australia, unbeaten with two wins and one no-result, tops the points table with 5 points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.960. Their campaign kicked off with an 89-run victory over New Zealand, followed by a rain-abandoned match against Sri Lanka and a commanding 107-run win against Pakistan, where Beth Mooney’s century from a precarious 76/7 showcased their resilience.

India, positioned third with 4 points (two wins, one loss, NRR +0.959), started strongly with a 59-run win over Sri Lanka and an 88-run triumph against Pakistan but stumbled in a three-wicket loss to South Africa on October 9. Chasing 252, South Africa capitalized on India’s bowling vulnerabilities in the death overs, with Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 84 sealing the deal.

Historically, Australia dominates the rivalry with 48 wins in 59 ODIs against India, including nine of the last 10 encounters. However, India has claimed three of the last five World Cup meetings, offering a glimmer of hope. In ODIs on Indian soil, Australia leads 22-5, but the hosts’ recent home form (13 wins in 17 ODIs) could play a role.

The Visakhapatnam venue is known for its batter-friendly surface early on, with an average first-innings score of around 230, but it offers increasing grip for spinners as the game progresses. Teams winning the toss may opt to bowl first, especially with dew potentially aiding the second innings under lights. Weather forecasts indicate temperatures around 31°C with a chance of thundery showers, which could interrupt play.

Team News and Squads

India’s squad, led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhanaas vice-captain, features a blend of experience and youth. Key inclusions like Pratika Rawal (replacing Shafali Verma) and Uma Chetry (for injured Yastika Bhatia) aim to bolster the top order.

Full squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Uma Chetry (wk), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana.

Australia, captained by Alyssa Healy with Tahlia McGrath as deputy, welcomes back Sophie Molineux post-knee surgery. Grace Harris is out with a calf strain, replaced by Heather Graham.

Squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

No major injuries reported, but India’s bowling depth is under scrutiny after using only five full-time bowlers in recent games.

Team Overviews: Strengths and Positives

India Women: Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s squad blends experience with emerging talent. Their spin-heavy bowling attack featuring Deepti Sharma (off-spin), Sneh Rana (off-spin), and Shree Charani (left-arm spin) is a major positive, particularly suited to subcontinental conditions.

Deepti has taken 7 wickets in three matches, including economical spells that control the middle overs. The lower order has been a standout, with Richa Ghosh (131 runs, highest for India) providing explosive finishes at a strike rate of 127.18, and all-rounders like Sneh Rana adding depth. Rising fast bowler Kranti Goud has enhanced India’s bowling arsenal with her medium-pacedeliveries and notable recent performances, including earning Player of the Match honors in the tournament.

Home familiarity and Mandhana’s impressive record against Australia (916 runs at 48.21, including four centuries) bolster their batting. Positives include resilient comebacks in wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, where lower-order partnerships rescued innings, and a balanced squad with options like Radha Yadav for additional bowling option.

Australia Women: Captained by Alyssa Healy, the Aussies boast unparalleled depth and experience as defending champions. Their batting lineup is formidable, with Beth Mooney (tournament-leading runs for Australia) anchoring innings and accelerating, as seen in her 109 against Pakistan.

All-rounders like Ashleigh Gardner (115 runs, highest score in the tournament) and Ellyse Perry provide versatility, while the bowling unit mixing pace (Megan Schutt, Kim Garth) and spin (Georgia Wareham, Alana King) adapts seamlessly. Positives include consistent top-order contributions from Healy, Phoebe Litchfield, and Perry, and a knack for recoveries, evident in turning 76/7 into 221/9 against Pakistan. Their unbeaten streak and high net run rate reflect a well-oiled machine capable of dominating varied conditions.

India Women: The top order’s inconsistency is a glaring issue, with Smriti Mandhana (54 runs in three matches at average 18), Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues underperforming, leading to early collapses.

This over-reliance on lower-order rescues, as in the South Africa loss, could prove costly against Australia’s attack. Bowling depth needs enhancement; the five-bowler strategy faltered late in innings, conceding 30 runs in overs 47 and 49 against South Africa.

Introducing a sixth option, like Radha Yadav, could address this without weakening batting, but it requires tactical flexibility to avoid exhausting resources against Australia’s hitters like Gardner and Perry.

Australia Women: Despite their strengths, early batting fragility was exposed against Pakistan, slumping to 76/7 before recovery. They must ensure better starts against India’s spinners, who could exploit any turn on the Visakhapatnam surface.

Handling subcontinental conditions, where spin dominates, remains key; while their bowlers are balanced, over-dependence on pace in turning tracks could be a vulnerability. Additionally, integrating players like Sophie Molineux post-injury will test squad rotation.

Probable Lineups and Tactical Strategies

India Women Probable XI: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Shree Charani.

Australia Women Probable XI: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt.

India eyes a sixth bowling option to counter Australia’s hitters, potentially adding Radha Yadav or Arundhati Reddy for variety. This could involve dropping Harleen Deol, risking further top-order fragility.

Australia’s spin duo of Wareham and Alana King may target India’s batting, while their pace attack adapts to turning conditions. India’s drop rate (57% in the tournament) is a concern, having spilled 15 catches in five ODIs.

Batting Highlights (Tournament Stats):

Mandhana, 18 runs shy of 1,000 in 2025, has a stellar record against Australia (916 runs at 48.21).

Bowling Highlights (Tournament Stats):

Schutt’s strike rate of 31.3 against India is unmatched. Mandhana’s four centuries against Australia make her a potential game-changer, but Perry’s all-round contributions (batting and bowling) give Australia an edge.

India’s strategy may involve loading up on spinners to target Australia’s left-handers, potentially adding Radha Yadav for a sixth bowler to avoid part-time options like Harmanpreet’s off-spin proving costly.

As the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 heats up, the clash between India Women and Australia Women on October 12 in Visakhapatnam promises to be a pivotal encounter in the competition. Australia’s formidable depth and unbeaten streak position them as favorites, but India’s potent spin attack, bolstered by the fiery pace of Kranti Goud, and the passionate home crowd could tilt the scales.

With the Visakhapatnam pitch likely to favor spinners, India’s ability to stabilize their top order and capitalize on early breakthroughs will be crucial. Conversely, Australia must navigate subcontinental conditions and counter India’s bowling variety to maintain their dominance.

This battle of contrasting strengths sets the stage for a thrilling encounter that could shape the race to the semifinals.