When India take on defending champions Australia in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final at the DY Patil Stadium today, they would do well to recall skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s heroics against the same opposition at the 2017 World Cup semi-final in Derby. Kaur hammered a 115-ball 171 not out as the Indians beat the Australians by 36 runs. That was the last time the Indian women’s team beat Australia at a World Cup.
Aussies chase eighth title
The Australian women have been one of the most dominant forces in international cricket. Since 1973, there have been 12 completed editions of the World Cup and Australia have won seven (1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2022). They hold the record for the most World Cup match wins, 85. Currently, they are on a 15-match winning streak at World Cups, since 2022. The West Indies men’s teams of the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s were considered invincible, but even they haven’t enjoyed such success at World Cups.
At the current World Cup, the Australians have won six of their seven league matches. They chased down a women’s ODI record of 331 against India. Skipper Alyssa Healy and top batter Ashleigh Gardner have both scored two centuries each, while leg-spinner Alana King picked 7-18, the best figures in the tournament’s history, against South Africa. Against India, the Australian women have emerged victorious in 10 out of their last 11 ODI meetings. Adding to Team India’s woes is the absence of in-form opener Pratika Rawal (she has scored 308 runs in six matches so far), who is out injured. However, there are quite a few other batters, who can step up when the chips are down.
(From left) India opener Shafali Verma during a practice session in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday (middle) India’s Harleen Deol trains at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on the eve of the semi-final (right) Mumbai girl Jemimah Rodrigues hits one during a practice session on Wednesday. Pics/Atul Kamble
Smriti Mandhana is India’s top run-getter in the competition with 365 runs. Then, there is wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh, who has collected 175 runs. Also, Harleen Deol has aggregated 169 runs while Mumbai girl Jemimah Rodrigues has scored 141 runs so far. And of course, skipper Kaur has been impressive too with her tally of 151 runs. Adding to this list is Rawal’s replacement, opener Shafali Verma, who has just been drafted into the team and will most probably open the innings with Mandhana on Thursday.
Verma is known to be a big-hitter and has given India many good starts in the past. However, coming into the competition at such a crucial juncture can mean extra pressure. But Shafali, 21, who has been a part of three T20I World Cups and one ODI World Cup (scored 107 runs in four games in 2021-22 World Cup in New Zealand), reckoned that playing a big semi-final is not new to her.
“This [playing in a semi-final] is not new for me because I’ve played many semi-finals before. It’s just a matter of keeping my mind clear and giving myself confidence. I’ve been in such situations earlier, so I’ll just keep telling myself to stay calm and believe in my abilities. I’ll do well — 200 per cent,” Shafali, India said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday. Shafali had a lengthy practice session in the nets on Tuesday evening and seemed to be enjoying her batting, effortlessly going for her big hits between the deep mid-wicket and long-on region.
When mid-day asked her to assess the Australian bowling attack led by pacer Annabel Sutherland (15 wickets at this World Cup) and leg-spinner Alana King (13 wickets), Shafali shot back: “I’ve played against Australia many times, so they’re not new to me. I know their bowlers and their styles. I’ll back my strengths. Yes, they’ll come hard at us, but we’ve prepared a lot and everyone is in good touch. Hopefully, we’ll perform well. We’ve made it to the semi-finals, and everyone knows that we have to give 200 per cent because there’s no second chance — it’s a knockout.”
‘It’s all about nerves’
Meanwhile, Australia women’s team head coach Shelley Nitschke reckoned it will be a tough, high-pressure contest. “The semi-finals are anyone’s game. I don’t think we go in as the favourites or the underdogs. I think it’s a pretty level playing field. It promises to be an exciting match, a good contest. I think the team that holds its nerve and is able to overcome that pressure should be successful,” said Nitschke.