India vs Australia Women’s World Cup 2025 Highlights: AUS beat IND by 3 wickets

It was a superb start for India with Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana bringing up their respective 50s and putting 155 runs for the first wicket. After Smriti got out, Pratika and Harleen kept the momentum going.

Despite wickets falling, the batters kept the scoreboard ticking and India was always scoring over 6. Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh played superb cameos.

However, the lower order failed to capitalise after Jemimah threw her wicket and Deepti was out cheaply.

Nevertheless, stay tuned for the chase that is coming up.

India lose the eighth wicket as Amanjot Kaur is caught by Sophie Molineux off Ash Gardner. On the previous ball, substitute Georgia Wareham had dropped Sneh Rana.

It's very likely that India can get all out with some balls remaining.

India 329-8 in 48 overs (Sneh 7, Kranti 1)

A fine cameo by Jemimah Rodrigues, a 21-ball 33, comes to an end. But she is frustrated with herself. It is once again Sutherland delivering the back-of-the-hand slower ball that Rodrigues would have known all about from their time together at Delhi Capitals. It’s lethal, and it ends Jemi’s knock. India have lost their two main attacking threats early in the death overs.

- Vinayakk M

Annabel Sutherland has been Australia’s best bowler and she strikes a MASSIVE blow at the end of the 43rd over. Richa Ghosh was once again looking in the mood to thrill the Vizag crowd with late fireworks but it is cut short. Slower ball, dug into the pitch (if the Indian bowlers are keeping an eye) and Richa can’t get the power to clear long on. That is definitely a good 20-30 runs shaved off Australia’s potential target.

- Vinayakk M

Richa Ghosh finds her groove and smashes Tahila McGrath for one four and one six before Jemimah also got one boundary to make it 15 runs from the 5 balls bowled by the Aussie.

Despite two quick wickets, India has kept the scoreboard ticking. With Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues on the crease and Amanjot Kaur yet to come, there is a good chance of taking the score beyond 300.

India 255-4 after 39.3 overs.

Harmanpreet Kaur was genuinely looking good tonight, in the mood for a big one. Aggression from the word go. But once again a start not converted. Megan Schutt with a cutter and the Indian captain goes for the cut to find the fielder at point.

-Vinayakk M

Almost a brainfade moment between the wickets as Harman nudges one to the off side and takes off for a single but Harleen doesn't respond. She is right back in time but gives Harleen an earful and scores two boundaries on the next two balls.

India 228-2 after 35 overs

11 runs off the over from Alana King as both Harleen and Harman scored one boundary each and India has brought up 200 runs.

At the end of 32 overs, India are 208-2.

As we were talking about being tentative, Pratika Rawal can only hit the short ball from Sutherland into the hands of Ellyse Perry and India lose the second wicket.

A good innings by Pratika despite few moments of nervousness. This brings skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to the crease as crowd roars.

The broadcast was showing the clips of Harleen Deol's dismissal and struggles against South Africa and as per Anjum Chopra on the air, Harleen is still doing the same.

Pratika is also stuck for the past overs. The duo needs to keep the scoreboard ticking and not go into a shell.

Smriti Mandhana's superb innings comes to an end and it is Sophie Molineux who delivers the breakthrough, after a tough start to her afternoon.

Australia will believe now they can halt India's momentum. India have the chance to be flexible with their batting order today but they have opted to send Harleen in with Pratika once again, and this is a period Australia could well take back control of the match if these two bat the way they do.

- Vinayakk M

Tahila McGrath is also not working as Smriti scored a six and Pratika scored a four. At the moment, Healy needs to turn to leg spinner Alana King as there are not many options left for her after trying six bowling options.

India 153/0 after 24 overs (Smriti 79 (64) and Pratika 63 (80))

Smriti Mandhana is prolific today and Sophie Molineux is struggling against her.

Healy brings Sophie back to attack and Smriti hits another boundary off her to record highest-ever opening partnership against Australia in World Cup.

A superb shot to reach the milestone. The young opener goes straight down the ground against Garth to notch up her seventh fifty in the short international career.

Before the start of the match, Indian head coach Amol Mazumdar said that "picture abhi baaki hai" in reference to the top order scoring runs and boy he was right.

The Indian openers notch up their first 100 run partnership of the tournament and it has come at a good rate.

Smriti 55 runs of 49 balls and Pratika 46 runs of 66 balls

Australia bring on Tahila McGrath and she almost gets the breakthrough.

She takes the pace off the ball and finds Pratika's leading edge but despite Alana King's best effort, it will be counted as a dropped catch.

Another case of a bowler troubling Pratika with slower delivery.

Healy brings on Ash Gardner and Smriti takes on her again hitting her for a boundary on the very first ball. On the fourth ball she finds the gap on off-side again to score her second boundary. Nine runs from the over as Smriti moves to 47 runs.

Sutherland mixed slower balls and bouncers to frustrate Pratika and almost created a chance with Pratika blindly booking the short ball towards leg side but luckily it fell short of the fielder and went for a boundary.

The Indian openers have teed off! The introduction of spin has seen both Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal up the tempo. Molineux is welcomed with 4, 6 and 4 by Mandhana. Then a 4 & 6 from Rawal off Gardner. Both taking on the right matchups. The leftie taking on the left-arm orthodox and the righty taking on the right-arm offie. This is the cleanest Mandhana has struck the ball in this tournament so far, great early signs for India, Vinayakk M writes.

Australia has brought on spinners in attack and Smriti Mandhana takes on Sophie Molineux from the word go. She swats her for a four on the first delivery and then launches one straight down the ground for a six.

First signs of aggression from the Indian opener and Healy has changed the field immediately but Smriti scores another boundary to finish the over with 16 runs.

Pratika Rawal finally manages to breach the gap between mid on and mid wicket to score her first boundary as the runs come for India at a slow pace at the moment.

Kim Garth and Megan Schutt has done well to keep the Indian openers at bay with just two boundaries in the first four overs.

Smriti Mandhana scores a boundary on the last ball of the over as Kim Garth finishes the first over with just five runs. A careful start from the Indian openers.

India 5/0 after 1 over

Amol Muzumdar: It's the scariest part for the opposition that the top order hasn't clicked. In the last two years, Smriti Harman Harleen Jemi all these have faced the pressures over the bilateral series. In this World Cup, the lower order has definitely come through but abhi picture baaki hai.

Will the Indian top order click today when it is needed the most? We will find out in 13 minutes from now.

Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt

India Women (Playing XI): Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani

Despite struggling against South Africa in the last game, the Indian camp decides to go with five bowlers and makes no change to the playing XI and guess what, they have to defend again today.

"The pitch looks better than the previous one. We are going with the same XI," Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur says at the toss.

When asked about the previous game, Harman says,"Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. We were in the game for 95 overs. It is important how we bounce back from the loss."

On a hot afternoon, Mithali Raj notes,"It is a well rolled surface and will be good for strokeplay."

"One can expect a fair contest today between both the teams," she adds further.

It's a very hot afternoon in Vizag. The forecast last night wasn't great but this is as Indian as conditions could get. There are some showers expected later in the evening but right now the stage is set for the blockbuster league stage clash between India and Australia, reports Vinayakk M.

As the broadcast for the India v Australia match kicks off, the panel of Mayanti Langer, Anjum Chopra and Aaron Finch discuss the presence of match winners in the Australian squad.

Mayanti: "It looks like that all 11 in the Australian squad can win a game."

Finch: "You're right. We have seen Australia's top order failing like the game in Pakistan but salvaging a situation like that shows how good the overall balance and strength is."