Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur seeks inspiration from her 2017 Derby heroics to power India past Australia.
Navi Mumbai
Hosts India will hope for another spark of brilliance from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur when they face defending champions Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal at Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The clash, starting at 3 p.m. local time, offers India a chance to script history and reach their first ICC title final since 2017.
Eight years ago, Kaur produced one of the most iconic innings in women’s cricket — a 115-ball 171 not out at Derby against the same opponents — a knock that transformed the perception of the women’s game in India. Much like Kapil Dev’s 175 in 1983*, that innings was a watershed moment. Now, with form eluding her in recent games, the captain will be desperate to summon that same firepower when it matters most.
India’s campaign has been a story of grit and recovery. After losing three consecutive matches, the hosts staged a spirited comeback to secure a semifinal berth despite injury setbacks, including the loss of key batter Pratika Rawal. The onus now lies on vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who leads the tournament charts with 365 runs at an average of 60.83, including a century and two fifties.
Despite forecasts of unseasonal rain, the Navi Mumbai surface is expected to favor batting — setting the stage for a high-scoring thriller. Australia, unbeaten so far and chasing an unprecedented eighth World Cup title, remain the favorites, but India’s plucky performances have often troubled them.
Australia are set to welcome back skipper Alyssa Healy, who cleared a fitness test after missing recent matches. With Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry in form, the defending champions will be tough to crack. Yet, if India are to prevail, they will need another ‘Derby miracle’ from Harmanpreet Kaur.
