Navi Mumbai, Oct 29 (NationPress) Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop asserts that India should seek motivation from their legendary 1983 Men’s ODI World Cup victory to challenge Australia's formidable presence in the crucial 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup semi-final against the defending champions at the DY Patil Stadium this Thursday.

The victor of this thrilling semi-final matchup will face either England or South Africa in the final scheduled for November 2 in Navi Mumbai. Australia, the only undefeated squad in the tournament, is vying for a historic eighth ODI World Cup title, while India seeks to halt their momentum and reach the title match on home ground.

Fortunately for India, the squad led by Harmanpreet Kaur has peaked at the right moment, evidenced by their significant win over New Zealand at the DY Patil Stadium, especially after defeats to South Africa, Australia, and England during the league phase.

"I want to take everyone back to a discussion about an aura of invincibility. I rarely mention this because I was a young boy, devastated for days after that match. Remember the 1983 World Cup when India surprised the West Indies at Lord's?"

“The West Indies entered as overwhelming favorites, only to be upset by India, marking the dawn of a new era in how the game was perceived and played. This spirit is one that all teams, especially India, must tap into for the semi-final,” stated Bishop during a virtual media day ahead of the India-Australia showdown.

He also pointed out how the Women's Premier League (WPL) and the rise of franchise women’s T20 leagues have allowed Indian players to view their Australian counterparts as equals rather than untouchable champions.

"The WPL has humanized this dynamic. When players like Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, and Alana King compete alongside Indian players in the WPL, they see their human side, recognizing they are not machines. Just like playing with legends such as Ricky Ponting or Sir Vivian Richards, you realize they have off days and exceptional days, and you can emulate their preparation. The full impact of the WPL on India’s cricket evolution over the next five years, particularly in fielding, power hitting, and identifying frontline seam bowlers, is yet to be seen,” he elaborated.

Addressing Australia's renowned resilience with the bat in critical situations, Bishop emphasized a tactical approach for Harmanpreet & Co. to prioritize aggression over caution and avoid defensive field placements.

"You must adopt an aggressive stance. The women’s game is rapidly evolving, and I am thrilled with its progression. However, I want to see teams like India embrace a more assertive approach overall. If wickets have fallen, don’t retreat and wait for the next wicket to fall by placing fielders deep and permitting easy singles.”

“Be aggressive in your field settings to complement your bowling strategy. We’ve observed that if you allow Australian batters, such as Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, and Beth Mooney, to settle in, they can score hundreds and manage to obtain competitive scores despite a weak lower order. You must be willing to risk losing the game to win it by being assertive in your field settings, captaincy, and bowling,” he clarified.

On a broader note, Bishop stressed the importance of India cultivating quality pace bowling talent through their academy and franchise systems. "They need to discover some frontline seamers. While spinners will always emerge, the academies, franchises, and regions where the women's game is played must enhance their seam bowling options. They benefit from the excellence brought by international players like Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt to the WPL, which aids franchises and advances India's position in the global arena," he concluded.

Don’t miss the matchup between Australia and India in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 this Thursday at 3:00 PM, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

–IANS