Australia all-rounder Nicola Carey said her side is determined to carry their winning momentum into the semi-finals as the defending champions prepare to face India in their final ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match at Lord's Cricket Ground, London, on Sunday, 28 June. Australia enter the fixture unbeaten, having won all four of their group matches and already secured a knockout berth.

Carey's Pre-Match Message

Despite the semi-final spot already confirmed, Carey was clear that Australia have no intention of easing off against India. 'Definitely want to achieve a win. It's a huge game in the context of our group. We want to carry some momentum into the semis,' she said ahead of the start of play.

The experienced all-rounder also highlighted the significance of the venue, noting that familiarity with English conditions has been a key advantage for the squad throughout the tournament. 'It's a great ground to play at and it's already buzzing. A lot of our girls have spent a lot of time playing over here. There's good knowledge around the group of the different grounds we've played at,' she added.

Australia's Batting Depth on Show

Australia's batting unit has been among the standout performers of the tournament, with contributions spread across the line-up. Carey credited the top order for consistently building strong platforms that have given the middle and lower order the freedom to attack. 'I sort of get the hit-and-giggle role, I like to call it. Our girls have been amazing at the top of the order. Everyone's contributed at different times and laid really good platforms for the middle to lower order to come in and have fun at the back end,' she said.

The six-time champions' batting depth has made them the tournament's most complete side, with no single match posing a serious threat to their progress so far.

What's at Stake for India

For India, the match carries far greater urgency — a win is essential to secure their place in the knockout stage. Carey acknowledged the weight of the contest: 'It's always a huge game playing against them. They're a quality outfit. The crowd always gets behind them. We've had some really good games against them in recent times. Huge game, huge tournament, hopefully it's an exciting game.'

This comes amid a high-stakes group-stage run-in that has seen several sides fighting for the remaining semi-final spots, making the India-Australia clash one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament.

Team Changes and Toss

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first. The only change to India's playing XI saw Kranti Gaud come in for Nandini Sharma. Australia made one change as well, bringing back Phoebe Litchfield in place of Alana King.

With both sides having met in several high-profile clashes in recent years, Sunday's match at the Home of Cricket is set to be a compelling contest — one that could shape the semi-final seedings and India's tournament fate in equal measure.