Australia's last defeat in ODI World Cup history was what changed the discourse around women's sport in India. On a rainy day in Derby, when Harmanpreet Kaur dismantled the Australian attack one audacious stroke at a time, it not only reshaped perceptions of women's cricket back home, but also sparked a newfound conviction within the team that they could stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world. From dark horses who narrowly missed out on silverware in 2017 to genuine title contenders in the 2025 World Cup on home soil - India have made rapid strides, with key clashes against Australia often serving as pivotal turning points in their journey since. The most recent of which was the run-filled game in Delhi just last month, showcasing how far power-hitting in women's game has evolved.
Heavyweights seek perfection in high-stakes battle
While that bilateral fixture offered an appetising preview of what's to come from the two teams, their World Cup performances so far haven't quite justified their billing as tournament heavyweights. India and Australia have shared few similarities in their campaigns - both teams have had their batting depth tested by unfancied sides early in the competition, neither have had their perfect game yet, and both have dropped points they must have been banking on. While for Australia it was a washout that forced them to split points with Sri Lanka in Colombo, India have only themselves to blame for the two they gifted to South Africa in Vizag.
And now, India and Australia find themselves on the collision course in their pursuit for that perfect game that will, hopefully, set their rhythm right.
At the halfway stage in their campaign, the cracks are beginning to show for the hosts. India's faltering batting order had problems aplenty - right from
