Women’s Cricket World Cup: India’s Semifinal History & Prospects

The Indian Women’s cricket team has secured its place in the semifinals of the Women’s ODI World Cup for the fifth time, gearing up for a challenging encounter against undefeated Australia. This achievement highlights India’s consistent performance in the pinnacle event of women’s cricket. Their journey to the 2025 semifinals wasn’t straightforward, marked by a three-game losing streak that put their qualification in jeopardy before a vital win against New Zealand sealed their fate. A washed-out final league match against Bangladesh did not impact their progress. The team now faces the formidable task of overcoming the defending champions and tournament favorites. India’s best performances in the Women’s ODI World Cup to date are two runner-up finishes. In 2005, they reached the final, defeating New Zealand in the semis but losing to Australia. The 2017 edition witnessed another inspirational run, culminating in a remarkable semifinal victory against Australia, largely due to Harmanpreet Kaur’s extraordinary unbeaten 171. However, the final against England ended in a nine-run defeat, a heartbreaking conclusion to a promising campaign.