Having experienced the pressures of winning big tournaments, two-time World Cup winner Meg Lanning knows exactly what it takes to succeed in knockout matches.
The former Australia captain believes that while Australia holds a slight advantage in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final against India, the match could turn on the intensity of the home crowd and a determined performance from India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Speaking on The ICC Review with Nikhil Uttamchandani, Lanning highlighted Australia’s exceptional squad depth in both batting and bowling. “I think Australia have just got incredible depth. They’ve shown throughout the tournament that they’re not reliant on one or two players,” she said.
This depth has been evident with consistent contributions from stars such as Alyssa Healy, Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney, alongside a disciplined bowling unit led by Ashleigh Gardner and Megan Schutt. However, Lanning cautioned that India’s passionate fans and home advantage will make it a challenging encounter.
For India, the semi-final presents a massive opportunity to shine, especially after the setback of losing opener Pratika Rawal to injury. Lanning pointed out that the hosts will depend heavily on their skipper to deliver a game-changing performance.
“For India I’m going to go with captain Harmanpreet Kaur. She’s had a good tournament, but she’s probably yet to really explode and dominate a game,” she remarked.
Harmanpreet’s ability to take charge in critical moments is well known, given her iconic innings against Australia in past knockouts. Supporting roles from players like Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh will also be crucial to India’s hopes.
On the Australian side, Lanning singled out Beth Mooney’s importance. “For Australia it has to be Beth Mooney as she can come in at any situation in the innings and adapt accordingly,” the former captain explained.
Mooney’s skill in anchoring partnerships or accelerating as needed has been key to Australia’s unmatched consistency throughout the tournament. Her composure under pressure is expected to be vital in this high-stakes clash.
Both teams face a pivotal moment where composure, skill, and adaptability will determine who advances to the final. Australia’s balance and experience stand contrasting against India’s spirited gameplay and home support.
The semi-final clash between India and Australia is set to be a gripping encounter where experience, depth, and composure will be tested against passion, home advantage, and the will to rise under pressure.
Meg Lanning’s analysis highlights the contrasting strengths of both teams—Australia’s incredible squad depth and adaptability versus India’s reliance on key players like Harmanpreet Kaur to ignite decisive moments.
Ultimately, the match will be decided by which side can seize control and maintain their nerve in this high stake battle for a World Cup final spot.
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