Australia scripted a memorable victory against India in the Women’s World Cup 2025, successfully chasing down an unprecedented 330 runs at Visakhapatnam’s Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. India’s initial strong batting performance, featuring significant knocks from Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, seemed to set them on course for a win. However, a spectacular century from Australian captain Alyssa Healy (142) and a resilient unbeaten 47 by Ellyse Perry propelled Australia to a three-wicket triumph, marking the biggest chase in WODI history.
Reflecting on the match, Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian captain, identified the final overs as the turning point. “We missed runs in the last six overs and that cost us,” she explained, suggesting that an additional 30-40 runs could have made a significant difference on the good batting wicket. Kaur lauded the openers for their consistent form, which has been instrumental in posting high totals, but also noted a recurring issue of faltering in the middle overs over the last few games. She expressed confidence in the team’s potential for a strong comeback and highlighted the importance of showing intent. Kaur also backed her bowling attack, specifically praising Charani for her consistent wicket-taking ability and resilience. She indicated that the established bowling combination would be retained, underscoring the team’s belief in its core strategy despite recent results.