7 months ago
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Australia has won 7 of the 12 Women’s ODI World Cup editions truthful far. The past clip it mislaid a World Cup crippled was 8 years agone — to India — erstwhile Harmanpreet Kaur produced her unforgettable blitz successful Derby successful July 2017. No wonderment past that the 2025 variation has often been dubbed arsenic a conflict among the remainder for the runners-up spot.
India, buoyed by its beardown lead-up to the tourney and the vantage of location conditions, entered this World Cup arsenic the apical challenger to Australia’s dominance. However, an inconsistent league signifier has near the hosts facing the defending champions successful Thursday’s semifinal alternatively of successful a imagination final.
Perhaps successful a determination aimed astatine unsettling Australia, India has drafted successful Shafali Verma arsenic an wounded replacement for the in-form Pratika Rawal, who wounded her close limb during the past league crippled against Bangladesh. Shafali is expected to unfastened alongside Smriti Mandhana, reigniting 1 of India’s astir explosive partnerships.
While fans whitethorn anticipation for different Harmanpreet peculiar reminiscent of 2017, overmuch volition beryllium connected Smriti, the vice-captain, to anchor the innings against a bowling onslaught she has often dominated successful the past.
Both sides endured little wounded concerns, but it is understood that Richa Ghosh and Australia skipper Alyssa Healy person recovered and are disposable for selection. Their instrumentality adds equilibrium and acquisition to some line-ups up of what promises to beryllium a high-stakes clash.
With dense rainfall forecast crossed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region implicit the adjacent 48 hours, determination remains a unreality of uncertainty implicit the weather. The cricket assemblage volition anticipation for wide skies and a packed DY Patil Stadium connected Thursday — the cleanable signifier for India to situation the mightiness of the squad to beat.
