IND vs AUS Women’s World Cup semifinal: Will rain kill the thrill as Mumbai is on yellow alert? – Pitch report, records, playing XI

The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal between India and Australia, set to take place on Thursday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, is shaping up to be an exciting contest—weather permitting. A yellow alert has been issued for heavy morning rain across Mumbai, with thunderstorms expected until around 7 a.m. IST. AccuWeather forecasts scattered morning thundershowers followed by clearer skies, with a 55% chance of rain early on. However, by 3 p.m.—the scheduled start time—conditions should improve significantly, with hazy sunshine, temperatures around 33°C, and only a 20% chance of rain, dropping to 4% by evening.

Reserve day provisions

Despite the positive outlook, officials remain prepared for any weather disruptions. The ICC has implemented reserve day provisions for both semifinals and the final to ensure results aren’t determined by rain alone. If play is interrupted, the match will continue from the exact point it stopped on the reserve day, even if overs are reduced. Should rain persist across both days, the team higher on the group stage points table—in this case, Australia—will advance to the final. If the final itself is washed out, the title will be shared.

With the weather expected to clear in time, Indian fans are hopeful for a full day of action and perhaps a performance reminiscent of Harmanpreet Kaur’s unforgettable 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup.

Head-to-head records

India and Australia have faced each other 60 times in Women’s ODIs, with Australia dominating the rivalry by winning 49 matches to India’s 11. This record highlights the tough challenge awaiting the Women in Blue. India have already lost once to Australia in this tournament, and opener Pratika Rawal’s injury absence adds to their concerns.

Pitch report

The DY Patil Stadium pitch in Navi Mumbai generally favours batters, but as the match progresses, spinners are likely to find some turn, making the toss a crucial factor in this high-stakes clash.

Predicted playing XI

India: Shefali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh

Australia: Alyssa Healy, Pheobe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth

Excitement soars as the high-stakes cricketing clash is set to begin in a few hours. (With inputs from Agencies)