As the curtains rise on the second semi-final of the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, all eyes turn to Navi Mumbai’s Dr DY Patil Stadium, where India and Australia are set to clash on October 30 in what promises to be a blockbuster encounter. The air in Mumbai is heavy — not just with humidity and the hint of rain — but with anticipation, passion, and the weight of history in the making.
While players fine-tune their final preparations, the skies above Navi Mumbai are equally preparing for a day of drama. The popular weather handle “Mumbai Rains” took to their social media platform, “X” (formerly known as Twitter), with a timely update that instantly caught the attention of fans and organizers alike.
“Semifinal 30 Oct – Navi Mumbai to stay mostly cloudy throughout the day with strong wind gusts and on-off rain spells mostly during sunset hours. Washout is unlikely but overs may get reduced. Winning the toss -better to bowl first,” said the handle.
The forecast suggests a typical late-October setting for the coastal city — humid, overcast, and unpredictable. Temperatures are expected to hover around 32°C, with humidity levels possibly touching 59% by evening. There’s a 30% chance of rain, though a full match remains likely, much to the relief of cricket fans across the globe. Winds are expected to blow at 19 kph, which could provide early swing for pacers before spinners come into play as the pitch begins to wear down.
For Australia, the forecast is the least of their concerns. Their campaign so far has been a masterclass in dominance, resilience, and depth. They opened the tournament with an emphatic 89-run victory over New Zealand, setting the tone for what would become another golden run. A rain-affected outing against Sri Lanka did little to dent their rhythm before they pulled off a remarkable comeback against Pakistan — recovering from 115/8 to post 221, thanks to a defiant partnership between Beth Mooney and Alana King, and then bowling Pakistan out for just 114.
Their defining performance, however, came against India during the group stage — chasing down a daunting 331 with an over to spare. That victory underscored the depth of their batting order, spearheaded by Alyssa Healy’s aggression and the relentless finishing power of Ellyse Perry. Australia’s campaign has carried an air of inevitability, a rhythm that feels both unstoppable and intimidating.
For India, this semi-final represents not just a chance at glory but a story of redemption and grit. The hosts began their campaign with confidence — defeating Sri Lanka by 59 runs (DLS) and outplaying Pakistan by 88 runs, fueled by Smriti Mandhana’s form and Deepti Sharma’s balance with both bat and ball. But mid-tournament heartbreaks followed: narrow defeats to South Africa (by 3 wickets), Australia (by 3 wickets), and England (by just 4 runs) that tested their mental strength and tactical resolve.
Each of those close losses, however, seemed to ignite something within the Indian team. With their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread, a commanding 53-run win over New Zealand not only restored belief but also secured their spot in the knockouts. The rain-affected match against Bangladesh in the final league stage offered little play but did nothing to dampen India’s momentum or morale.
Loves all things female cricket