Navi Mumbai, Oct 29 (NationPress) Ian Bishop, the former West Indies fast bowler, has encouraged Shafali Varma to grasp an unexpected chance and deliver a crucial performance for India in their 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia, scheduled at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday.

India faced a significant setback when star opener Pratika Rawal was sidelined from the semi-final due to ankle and knee injuries sustained during a league game against Bangladesh, which was ultimately canceled due to rain.

With Pratika's injury, Shafali, who hasn’t participated in an ODI for nearly a year, was included in the Indian World Cup squad. Recently, she showcased her talent in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy for Haryana, scoring a rapid 70 runs off 49 balls in a four-wicket victory (via DLS method) for India A against New Zealand during a World Cup warm-up match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

"That won't be an easy task. It ultimately relies on whether she has been refining her skills. Admittedly, her recent international form hasn't been encouraging. Nonetheless, this is a one-time game, and she must enter with the mentality that this opportunity is unexpected, especially in a semi-final setting, which carries immense pressure and expectations during the World Cup," Bishop remarked to the press at a JioStar Media Day ahead of the India-Australia semi-final.

He further acknowledged that filling Pratika's shoes, particularly after her impressive century against New Zealand, represents a substantial challenge for the hosts aiming to clinch their first ODI World Cup title.

"Filling that gap is never straightforward, especially since Pratika's last performance saw her in excellent form. It was a significant milestone in many respects. She also contributed with the ball. Thus, this is a considerable loss. However, the team must adopt a 'next player up' approach," he added.

Bishop emphasized that India should not allow Pratika's absence to affect team morale. "It's a tough situation, but one cannot dwell on Pratika's absence and let it negatively impact the team. The next player must step up and make a difference, as this is a World Cup semi-final with everything at stake,” he stated.

He also highlighted that Australia excels in adapting to injuries within their ranks, using the example of Alyssa Healy and Georgia Voll.

Bishop suggested that India would benefit from including an extra bowler against Australia’s formidable batting lineup on the red soil pitch in Navi Mumbai. "I believe India should consider adding that extra bowling depth, allowing the batsmen to shoulder more responsibility, regardless of the combination chosen," he stated.

Additionally, he proposed an intriguing tactical adjustment: advancing Harleen Deol to open the batting, thereby allowing India to field an extra bowler. "This strategy would enable Harleen to capitalize on pace and excel during the power play, while also accommodating that extra bowler," he said.

"This approach would provide Harmanpreet with more options. Against Australia, it’s vital to have a balanced strategy, especially with their ability to target weaknesses in the bowling attack," he concluded.

Catch the action between Australia and India in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 on Thursday, at 3:00 PM, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

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