Sports News: The Indian women’s cricket team’s high-octane semi-final against Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 on Thursday faces a rain threat at Navi Mumbai. The semi-final between Harmanpreet Kaur’s India and Australia, led by Alyssa Healy, is set to start at 3 PM IST at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mambai, on 30 October.
But the major issue is rain. The previous game at the venue, between India and Bangladesh on 26 October, was also washed out due to rain. As per the forecast, rain is once again set to play spoilsport during the World Cup semi-final.
The International Cricket Council already prepared for such situations. Every knockout game has a reserve day available. If rain cancels play on 30th October, the match will shift to 31st. This ensures teams do not lose out due to weather alone. ICC’s rule is meant to keep fairness in knockout stages. For India, this means one more chance even if heavy rain interrupts play on the scheduled day.
If rain washes out play on both days, then the group stage performance will decide who qualifies. Australia finished higher in the points table compared to India. This means Australia would move to the finals if no ball is bowled on either day. Such a situation would break Indian fans’ hearts, as the team has worked hard to reach this stage.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur remains confident despite the threat of rain. She believes the bowlers can use overcast conditions to their advantage. Indian seamers like Renuka Thakur and Shikha Pandey may benefit from swinging conditions. At the same time, Indian batters must be careful against the Australian attack if the game happens. For the team, every over will matter in such tense circumstances.
The DY Patil Stadium pitch has historically favored batters. Under lights, pacers usually get swing in the opening overs. Once the shine fades, batting becomes easier. With cloud cover expected, conditions could favor bowlers early on. This balance makes the venue exciting but unpredictable. The atmosphere is already electric as fans wait anxiously to see cricket instead of rain interruptions.
Fans across India are nervous. Social media is flooded with hashtags like #SaveTheSemiFinal and #LetIndiaPlay. Many are praying for clear skies in Navi Mumbai. Australian fans, however, are calmer since their team stands to benefit if rain cancels both days. Indian supporters remain hopeful that even a shortened game will give their team a fighting chance to qualify.
This semi-final decides who faces South Africa in the Women’s World Cup final. South Africa shocked everyone by beating England in the other semi-final. For India, rain could mean missing out on history without even playing. For Australia, their consistent group performance gives them a safety net. All eyes are on the skies, and the outcome now rests as much with the weather as with cricket.
