INDW vs AUSW: Big test for Harmanpreet and company, the path to semi-finals in the World Cup will not open without defeating Australia

If Australia beats India and South Africa beats Bangladesh, then South Africa will reach the semi-finals. At the same time, the easiest way for India to get the semi-final ticket is to defeat a strong team like Australia.

Do or die match at Lord’s
The last 2 matches of the group stage will be played at Lord’s on Sunday. The first match will be between South Africa and Bangladesh, while in the second match India will face Australia. Australia has almost confirmed its place in the semi-finals, but South Africa’s poor net run rate is forcing it to depend on the outcome of the India-Australia match.

South African batsman Tajmin Britts also admitted that perhaps for the first time her team will pray for Australia’s victory. His one word answer tells the importance of this match.

Challenge for India to reach semi-finals
The biggest challenge before India is regarding its playing 11 and strategy. The team has used all 16 players in the entire tournament so far. But the final eleven still does not seem to be decided. The experiment of sending Yastika Bhatia to number 3 was not successful. Shreyanka Patil’s injury has disturbed the balance of the team. The team management could not express full confidence in the fast bowlers, while poor fielding has also increased India’s problems.

However, the Indian team also has a big reason for confidence. Last year, in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2025, India registered a spectacular victory against Australia by chasing record runs. The team would like to repeat the same performance.

How could India’s playing-11 be?
India’s probable team may include Shefali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Bharti Fulmali or Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy or Nandini Sharma, Renuka Singh and N Sri Charani. At the same time, the return of Phoebe Litchfield, who returned fit in Australia, is considered certain.

Perry is the most important link for Australia
If we look at the players, Australia’s Ellyse Perry is in great form. Along with scoring 71 runs, he also took two wickets against Pakistan. On the other hand, the bat of Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has remained silent till now. He has scored only 85 runs in four matches and did not hit a single six. In such a situation, the team will expect a big innings from him.

South Africa also in the race for semi-finals
Tajmin Britts is continuously scoring runs for South Africa. Despite playing only two matches, she is the most successful batsman of the team with 154 runs. Whereas Bangladesh’s leg spinner Rabeya Khan can become a challenge for South Africa with her economical bowling.

What will be the nature of the pitch?
The pitch at Lord’s is considered helpful for the batsmen. In the first match played here in this World Cup, England had scored 186 runs. The weather is also expected to be clear. In such a situation, cricket fans can expect two exciting matches, which will decide both the semi-finalists of Group B.

India (probable): 1 Shefali Verma, 2 Smriti Mandhana, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur, 5 Bharti Fulmali/Yastika Bhatia, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Radha Yadav, 9 Arundhati Reddy/Nandani Sharma, 10 Renuka Singh, 11 N Sri Charani.

Australia (possible): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Georgia Woll, 3 Phoebe Lichfield, 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Ashley Gardner, 6 Georgia Wareham, 7 Annabel Sutherland, 8 Nicola Carey, 9 Sophie Molineux (c), 10 Alana King, 11 Kim Garth