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Alyssa Healy's Australia And...? Challenges India Women Need To Beat In The World Cup

Soumyajit Dutta

Alyssa Healy and Harmanpreet Kaur [Source: @lav_narayanan/X.com]Alyssa Healy and Harmanpreet Kaur [Source: @lav_narayanan/X.com]

The Women's World Cup 2025 is knocking at the door, and the India Women's team has just been startled by Australia's shock win in the ODI series. It comes as a jolt for Indian fans who believe that the India Women have a good grip on the game and can be easily placed on top of other nations.

However, that is not the case. India is one of the favourites to win the World Cup; however, there are some major obstacles that the Women in Blue need to overcome. Let's take a deep dive into that.

1. Australia Women

Australia Women enter the tournament as perennial favourites, boasting a formidable lineup led by captain Alyssa Healy and all-rounder Ellyse Perry. Let's take a look at how they can be a serious challenge in front of Harmanpreet Kaur & Co.

Primary Threats From Australia Women

  • Alyssa Healy - The skipper and wicketkeeper of Australia has been in great form with her average of 34.68 in ODIs. She will be a key player for India who can turn the momentum of the game with her bat.
  • Ellyse Perry - Ellyse Perry boasts a whopping 48.47 average in ODIs and has match-winning capabilities. If she stays on the crease for long, she can also display her big-hitting capabilities.
  • Megan Schutt - The searing pacer from Australia will be a concern for India Women. From her 15 ODIs against India Women, Megan bagged 23 wickets at an economy of 4.68, which describes her lethality on field.

Head-To-Head vs India Women

Australia Women have severely dominated India in ODI games. Out of 57 matches, Australia Women bagged 47 wins while the Women in Blue only stand with 10 wins. The disparity speaks for India's weakness against the Women in Yellow.

How Can India Counterattack Australia Women?

India must counter Australia’s top order with disciplined spin from Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma and find early breakthroughs with Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues putting up competitive totals or chasing down the same against a lethal Australian pace and spin attack.

2. New Zealand Women

New Zealand’s White Ferns represent a blend of experience and emerging talent. Captain Sophie Devine leads a strong team who are in contention of the title. Here's how they pose a threat.

Primary Threats From New Zealand Women

  • Sophie Devine - The NZ-W skipper has played 16 ODI matches against India Women and boasts an average of 29.1. With the ball too, Devine has scalped 11 wickets at an economy rate of 4.74, which underscores her dual-threat nature against India.
  • Lea Tahuhu - Senior pacer Lea Tahuhu boasts a striking economy of 4.04 against India from the 91 overs she bowled. She boasts 14 wickets against the team while delivering dot balls of 69.2%.
  • Suzie Bates - Suzie Bates has played 17 ODI matches against India Women and scored at an average of 29.0. She has an ODI average of 39.84, which underscores her ability to stay long at the crease.

Head-To-Head vs India Women

New Zealand Women faced India Women in 57 ODI encounters, where 34 were won by Zealand former and 22 were won by India Women. Only one match ended in a tie.

How Can India Counterattack New Zealand Women?

India’s batters must neutralise Devine and Bates early, while India’s bowlers need to seize momentum through wicket-taking in the powerplay. Radha Yadav’s left-arm spin and Renuka Singh Thakur's swing bowling will be pivotal in restraining New Zealand’s free-scoring top order.

3. England Women

England’s women’s team combine aggressive batting with tactical bowling. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt boasts a team with big names like Heather Knight, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley, which already caps off their might against other teams.

Primary Threats From England Women

  • Nat Sciver-Brunt - The English captain might be the biggest obstacle between India Women and their win. The right-handed batter boasts an average of 43.6 against India with 5 half-centuries to her name in these contests. Hence, removing her early might be key to India's win.
  • Heather Knight - Heather Knight, the England veteran, boasts a massive average of 35.10 in ODIs from 149 matches and an average of 31.5 against India Women from 18 matches. If she stays for long, India might face trouble removing her.
  • Danielle Wyatt-Hodge - Danni boasts an average of 29.4 against India Women from the 14 ODI matches she played. She also boasts 6 wickets from these contests, underlying her dual impact against India Women.

Head-To-Head vs India Women

Out of the 79 ODI matches England Women and India Women played, 41 were won by England, while 36 were won by India Women. Out of all these contests, 2 matches ended in a no-result.

How Can India Counterattack England Women?

India’s response must involve playing spin smartly against Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith, while Indian pacers should aim for swing in the early overs to disrupt England’s top order. A tactical mix of spin and pace in the middle overs could also be crucial in restricting England's run flow.

Strategic Imperatives for India

To overcome all of these threats in the tournament, India must:

  • Sharpen Powerplay Bowling: Early wickets against Healy, Devine, and Heather Knight are critical.
  • Exploit Spin Variations: Deploy Nallapureddy Charani, Deepti Sharma, and Radha Yadav to choke scoring in middle overs.
  • Build Deep Batting Depth: Ensure reliable contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Richa Ghosh to counter high-scoring opponents.
  • Fielding Excellence: Maintain high fielding standards to save crucial runs versus powerful batting lineups.

Ultimately, India’s ability to blend tactical bowling plans with above-par batting performances will determine their success against these cricketing powerhouses in the Women’s World Cup.