Former captain Meg Lanning believes that Australia’s “incredible depth,” showcased throughout the tournament, gives the seven-time champions an advantage over India in the women’s ODI World Cup semifinals in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The defending champions are pursuing their eighth title, extending their record, and remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Australia previously defeated India by three wickets during the league stage. Lanning remarked, “I think Australia has just got incredible depth. They’ve shown throughout the tournament that they’re not reliant on one or two players.” She noted that even if Australia loses early wickets, they possess significant power towards the end of their innings, allowing them to recover from challenging situations.
Lanning, a two-time World Cup winner, including once as captain, pointed out that India will feel the absence of injured opener Pratika Rawal and indicated that captain Harmanpreet Kaur needs to rise to the occasion. “For India, I am going to go with captain Harmanpreet Kaur. She’s had a good tournament, but she’s probably yet to really explode and dominate a game.” As India, fortunate to still be in the tournament, seeks a moment of brilliance reminiscent of Kaur’s legendary 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 semifinal, they face a formidable challenge. A win over the seven-time champions would ignite India’s campaign and instill belief that an ICC title is attainable.
With a history of inconsistency, Thursday’s match presents India with an opportunity to overcome one of the most dominant teams in sports. India’s journey as hosts has been demanding, especially after enduring three consecutive defeats before rallying to reach the semifinals. However, losing key batter Pratika Rawal to injury adds to the pressure. There is no margin for error as India confronts opponents who previously outperformed them in league matches. Prior to taking the field, India must address crucial questions regarding their team combination. The inclusion of power hitter Shafali Verma, who was not part of the original squad or reserves, adds intrigue.
However, her record of 893 runs in 25 innings alongside vice-captain Smriti Mandhana pales in comparison to Rawal and Mandhana’s impressive 1,799 runs in 23 innings as an opening pair.