The business end of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 promises drama not just on the field, but in the skies above. As teams prepare for the semi-finals, rain clouds hover ominously over both venues — Guwahati and Navi Mumbai — forcing organizers and fans alike to look closely at one of cricket’s most crucial backup plans: the reserve day.
The knockout stage is set with a touch of déjà vu. England will meet South Africa in Guwahati on October 29 while defending champions Australia face hosts India at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on October 30. This semi-final pairing mirrors that of the 2017 edition, where England triumphed over South Africa and Australia bowed out to India — a memory that still fuels excitement and anticipation.
Australia have been the standout side this year, ending the league stage unbeaten with six wins and one no result, topping the table with 13 points. England’s strong late surge saw them finish second with 11 points, followed by South Africa with 10. India, despite a stop-start campaign that included a rain-marred clash against Bangladesh, completed the top four.
After Colombo’s relentless downpours washed out five matches earlier in the tournament, the rain has now shifted to India — and not at the best time. The India–New Zealand game in Navi Mumbai witnessed lengthy interruptions, while the India–Bangladesh fixture became the first match in India this World Cup to be officially abandoned.
Forecasts suggest that showers could again disrupt play in Guwahati and Navi Mumbai during the semi-finals. To make sure the tournament reaches a fair conclusion, the ICC’s reserve day policy is ready to take effect — a safeguard designed precisely for moments like this.
Under the current rules, both semi-finals and the final (on November 2) have dedicated reserve days. However, the ICC emphasizes that every possible effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day itself, even if it means a reduced-overs contest. Only if play cannot be completed will the action spill over into the following day.
To explain how the system functions, the ICC outlines a few possible situations:
- If a full 50-over match begins but rain interrupts at 19 overs, and the match is later reduced to 46 overs per side but cannot resume that day, it will restart as a full 50-over contest on the reserve day.
- If play resumes after the overs are reduced (for instance, to 46 overs a side) but rain returns to halt proceedings again, the match will continue from that reduced point on the reserve day — not as a fresh 50-over game.
- Essentially, the key difference depends on whether the reduced-overs phase actually began before play stopped.
In the unlikely event of continuous rain washing out a semi-final despite the extra day, the team higher on the points table will progress to the final, which are Australia and England. If the final itself ends without a result, the trophy will be shared between the two finalists — an outcome every fan hopes to avoid, but one that cricket’s unpredictable weather can still force.
The matchups carry deep history. Australia and India have met thrice in World Cup knockouts, with Australia winning twice and India once — that iconic 2017 semifinal win still fresh in memory. England and South Africa have crossed paths twice in World Cup knockouts, and England have prevailed both times, maintaining a clean slate.
Both venues are now under the scanner of meteorological predictions. Guwahati expects showers during the first semifinal, while Navi Mumbai is likely to experience thunderstorms followed by late-night rain on October 30. With the final also scheduled at DY Patil Stadium, the same venue could determine not only India’s semi-final fate but the destiny of the championship itself.
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