Navi Mumbai, Oct 29 (NationPress) A highly sought-after position in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup awaits as India faces off against the reigning champions Australia in the second semifinal at DY Patil Stadium on Thursday. The victor will advance to challenge either England or South Africa, who are set to clash in the first semifinal on Wednesday, with the final match slated for Sunday (November 2).

Both squads arrive at this crucial match with significant injury updates shaping the narrative. For India, a major blow was confirmed with the news that opener Pratika Rawal will be sidelined for the rest of the tournament due to an ankle injury sustained while fielding against Bangladesh.

In her absence, Shafali Verma has been brought in as a replacement — a surprising comeback for the aggressive right-hander, who had not participated in the ODI setup for over a year and was not listed among the original standby players.

Shafali’s return provides India with a dynamic option at the top of the batting order, where she is expected to team up with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. She recently opened for India 'A' in Australia, where she scored a fluent half-century. The final batting arrangement will hinge on whether captain Harmanpreet Kaur chooses a deeper bowling lineup or sticks with an additional batter.

On the Australian side, the spotlight is on Alyssa Healy’s fitness. The captain missed the last two group matches against England and South Africa due to a minor calf strain but showed promising signs during training on Wednesday. Healy passed a fitness test, completed a full wicketkeeping session, and spent considerable time batting in the nets — indicating she is likely to return.

If Healy comes back, Beth Mooney may keep the gloves, although Healy reportedly feels prepared to resume wicketkeeping duties herself.

India is faced with challenging decisions in their bowling lineup. Renuka Thakur is anticipated to lead the attack, particularly given her success at DY Patil, while Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, and Sree Charani compete for spinning roles. The team’s recent inconsistency — alternating between five and six specialist bowlers — opens discussions about the optimal balance on what is typically a flat pitch that may experience dew later in the evening.

Australia, on the other hand, might reintroduce Sophie Molineux in place of Georgia Wareham to bolster their spin attack, depending on conditions. The remainder of their lineup remains stable, with Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, and Ashleigh Gardner expected to play pivotal roles in the middle order.

Historically, Australia has dominated India in women’s ODIs, winning 49 out of 60 encounters, leaving India with just 11 victories. This pattern extends to World Cup contests, where Australia leads 10-3, including their victory in the 2005 final, with one match ending without a result.

Thursday’s match will be the third semifinal clash between the two teams in World Cup history — Australia triumphed in New Delhi in 1997, but India famously turned the tables two decades later in Derby, where Harmanpreet Kaur’s unforgettable unbeaten 171 propelled them to a remarkable 36-run victory.

The weather is a factor both teams cannot control. Unseasonal rain in Mumbai has already impacted India’s final group-stage match, and additional showers are forecast for the week.

However, the ICC has implemented additional safeguards for the knockout stages — 120 minutes of extra time (up from 60 in the league phase) and a reserve day on Friday. For a result to be declared, both teams must have the chance to bat for at least 20 overs. If play remains impossible even after the reserve day, Australia will advance as the higher-ranked team.

Aiming for a record-extending eighth World Cup title, Australia seeks to become the first women’s team to secure back-to-back 50-over World Cups since 1988. Meanwhile, India, the fourth and final team to qualify for the semifinals, is eager to defy expectations and reach their first World Cup final since 2017.

Squads:

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice captain), Uma Chetry (wicket-keeper), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana.

Australia: Alyssa Healy (captain/wicket-keeper), Tahlia McGrath (vice captain), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux (wicket-keeper), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.