After a narrow loss to South Africa, hosts India face their toughest challenge yet, taking on unbeaten defending champions Australia in Visakhapatnam. The top-orderhas been a persistent issue, with the team relying on its middle and lower order for rescue acts in all three matches so far. The upcoming fixture against a deep and versatile Australian side, should put immense pressure on India's batters to find form.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana acknowledged the team's batting struggles but said they are focused on bouncing back. "Winning and losing are both part of the game... what matters most is how the team bounces back together," Rana stated. Addressing the top-order's strike rate, she added, "All the batters are working on their strengths, and everyone knows where they need to improve... as a team, we discuss it, regroup, and work towards improving it."
Australian captain Alyssa Healy acknowledged the rivalry, describing India as a "sleeping giant" that has been awakened by the Women's Premier League. Reflecting on the pivotal 2017 World Cup semi-final loss to India, Healy said it was a "real turning point" that forced Australia to "rethink our standards." She dismissed the idea of added pressure. "There’s absolutely no extra pressure on our team. I think we’ve come here with the job to do, and that hasn’t changed at any point in time. I think it’s going to be a fun experience for our whole group."
While Australia remains undefeated, they have also experienced top-order stumbles, relying on centuries from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney to secure victories. Healy confirmed her team would not adopt a conservative approach, emphasizing the importance of the PowerPlay. "I still think if you can get off to a good start and set a platform, that’s going to be really important," she explained. Australia's challenge to India is set to be amplified by the return of left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, who is available for selection and would poses a threat to an Indian lineup that has struggled against that style of bowling.
Historically, Australia has dominated the head-to-head record, winning 10 of 13 World Cup encounters against India. However, Rana believes the contested bilateral series last month gives India confidence. "The World Cup is a different stage, the pressure is completely different," she said. "We’ve seen Australia’s style for many years; they always play aggressively. But our plans are also clear... we hope to give a positive start tomorrow."