Fresh from victories over New Zealand and Pakistan, seven-time world champions Australia are set to face India in what many are calling the marquee clash of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Captain Alyssa Healy addressed the media ahead of the much-anticipated fixture in Vizag, reflecting on her team’s form, the evolving India – Australia rivalry, and lessons from past encounters.
Coming into the India match, Australia have shown composure in grinding out wins against New Zealand and Pakistan – both games where batting wasn’t easy. Asked about the trend of relatively low-scoring matches, Healy explained that adaptability has become a defining factor in this tournament.
“I think the wickets have been good, but perhaps the pressure and conditions have made things tricky at times,” Healy said.
“Teams have found themselves in difficult situations, and the conditions here have been slightly different from what we faced elsewhere. Adapting quickly is really important, especially in a new destination with fresh wickets and outfields. On our own batting, it’s about the top order setting the tone. We’ve had a few collapses, so it’s important that we’re bold and learn from those moments.”
Both teams have a storied history. India’s desire to topple the world champions has only intensified since their 2017 semifinal win, while Australia’s dominance continues to set the standard. Asked about the rivalry’s evolution, Healy praised India’s growth and acknowledged the mutual respect between the sides.
“The rivalry continues to grow,” Healy admitted. “India has been a sleeping giant in women’s cricket for a long time. Since the WPL came into play, they’ve realized the depth they have and developed a style of play that’s really impressive, especially in this format.
Playing them in home conditions is always tough, they’re a real threat. But as we’ve seen throughout this tournament, every team has been pushing each other hard. We won’t underestimate anyone. Every fixture requires hard work, and that’s exactly what a World Cup should be.”
When asked about the painful memory of Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 171 in the 2017 semifinal – a moment that derailed Australia’s campaign – Healy reflected on how that defeat became a turning point for her personally and for Australian cricket as a whole.
“I had forgotten quite a bit about that game,” Healy smiled. “But you all do a great job of reminding me every chance you get. That loss definitely pushed us to raise our standards and rethink how we approached our cricket.
“Personally, it gave me the opportunity to work on my batting and role within the team, and I’ve stayed in that space ever since. For the group, it was a turning point- it made us think about how we could get better, and I think we’ve been successful since then. India keeps challenging us, and it’s all about continuing to raise the bar and be better as a team.”
After consecutive wins in the tournament, Healy was asked whether her side still feels the same level of hunger to keep improving. “It’s something we’d like to rectify, and I’m sure many teams would say the same about past results,” she said. “Tomorrow is another opportunity, and if it’s our turn, we’ll make sure to seize it.”
Australia’s left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux sat out the last fixture, but Healy confirmed she’s back in contention for Vizag. “Sophie is available for tomorrow’s fixture. We haven’t finalized the XI yet, but she could play a really big role. She’s a great match-up in these conditions, so it’s nice to have her back.”
With a full house in Vizag and India eager to bounce back after their loss to South Africa, Healy was asked if Australia felt additional pressure.
“There’s absolutely no added pressure on us,” Healy stated. “We’ve come here with a job to do, and that hasn’t changed. Getting a look at the conditions the other night when India played South Africa was helpful- it gave us a bit of insight.
It’s a fresh opportunity at a new ground. We’re excited to adapt quickly and go out there to play our brand of cricket. The crowd’s expected to be sold out, which is an amazing experience, and hopefully, we can put on a good show.”
Conditions in Vizag have seen a mix of dew and early swing, leading to a question about the importance of the toss. “The toss might play a small role,” Healy noted. “There’s been some talk about bowling first to use early conditions, but it’s fifty-fifty, eventually, you have to go out there and get the job done regardless.
In India’s last game, they probably felt they posted a defendable total, so there are different ways to win here. The dew might come in, but it can also help swing bowlers. There are always variables, but great teams find a way to win irrespective of the toss.”
Healy concluded by emphasizing the importance of aggressive yet smart batting in the powerplay, a key area that has set Australia apart in past campaigns.
“The Powerplay still plays a crucial role in this World Cup,” Healy emphasized. “Getting off to a good start sets the platform. It’s often through the middle overs that sides have struggled, so a solid base early is key.
Both our openers are naturally aggressive players, and we’re not going to change that. It’s just about making smarter decisions and reading conditions better in the moment. If we can do that, it’ll set things up nicely for our strong middle order.”
With Australia sitting high on confidence after back-to-back wins and India determined to bounce back on home soil, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in the India – Australia rivalry.
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