Australia remained perfect in the ongoing Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 with a three-wicket win over host India at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. With this win, the Aussies took the top spot in standings, while India remained third after suffering consecutive losses.
Here are the major talking points from the India vs Australia Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 match:
India’s lack in batting depth
Coming into the match, there were concerns around the form of India’s top order batters, especially with the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues. However against the Aussies, there were steady partnerships going strong at the crease for the Women in Blue. Starting from the 155-run stand from openers Smriti and Pratika Rawal, one could see partnerships develop till about the halfway point. Once Annabel Sutherland sent Richa Ghosh back, at which point India was 294/5 in 43 overs, the last five batters in the line-up could only muster up 36 runs as the side was bundled out in 48.5 overs. Even skipper Harmanpreet said after the match that the team was probably 30-40 runs short and contributions from the lower order could have helped that.
Healy’s sublime knock
Australia captain Alyssa Healy scored 142 off 107 balls and stayed till more than half of her side’s chase from the beginning, something which India lacked in its innings. Healy had able partners throughout her knock — her opening partner in Phoebe Litchfield helped give the Women in Yellow a wonderful start to their 331-run chase. Then, Ashleigh Gardner’s 45 and Ellyse Perry’s brave 47 — she returned towards the end after retiring hurt early on — helped the Aussies clinch the win. But if it wasn’t for Healy’s sixth ODI century, Australia’s chase might have encountered more bumps than it did.
India’s five-bowler strategy
So far, India has chosen to stick to five full-time bowling options with the likes of Harmanpreet and Pratika chipping in with a few overs. However, this strategy may be becoming too predictable for the opponent. The Indian bowlers seem to lack a strike bowler, with its most experienced pacer in the squad, Renuka Singh, having played the game against Pakistan. While Harmanpreet said after the Australia match that they do not wish to change the combination which had given the team success ahead of the tournament, the Women in Blue might need to incorporate some variation in their bowling attack with a crucial game against England coming up next.
Published on Oct 13, 2025
