In cricket, one truth remains timeless — you are never truly the favourites against Australia. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing at home, if your star opener is in the form of their life, or even if the opposition captain is returning from injury. When it comes to the big stage, the odds — and history — almost always lean in Australia’s favour.
As Harmanpreet Kaur’s India prepares to take on Australia in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-final, the challenge couldn’t be more formidable. Australia are unbeaten in the tournament so far, boasting an enviable balance where nearly every bowler can bat and every batter can chip in with the ball. Their dominance over India in ODIs tells its own story — 49 wins in 60 meetings, including the last three in a row.
If you step into that Indian dressing room, you can almost feel the weight of the occasion. What does Kaur say to her team before walking out? How does coach Amol Mazumdar instil belief in a side up against a team that seems almost untouchable? When News18 CricketNext posed this very question to Ian Bishop, the former West Indies pacer and broadcaster offered a perspective grounded in both realism and hope.
ALSO READ: Shreyas Iyer Shares Recovery Progress After Near-Fatal Spleen Injury
“Playing against Australia is never easy,” Ian Bishop admitted. “They’re not invincible, but they’re very, very good — a juggernaut. The key is to remind the Indian players that it’s just a game of cricket. It’s important, but not life-or-death. Keeping calm and composed is vital when you face a champion side like this.”
He added that belief remains India’s greatest weapon. “Even though India has beaten Australia just once in the last 11 games, you have to believe that tomorrow could be that day. One win can change everything.” Ian Bishop also had a few encouraging words for Shafali Verma, who steps in for the injured Pratika Rawal. “It’s a one-off game,” he said. “She should see it as an opportunity to make a difference. Stay relaxed, back your skills, and make it count.”
However, India’s most significant question mark remains their bowling combination. They began the tournament experimenting with depth — multiple all-rounders and only two tailenders — a setup that didn’t always click. Yet interestingly, it gave them their best fights against Australia, both in the narrow group-stage loss and the pre-tournament series (which India lost 2-1).
ALSO READ: “They may send him at 11 also” – Kris Srikkanth on Sanju Samson after AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I
So, should India take that risk again or play it safe with a more balanced bowling-heavy lineup like the one that beat New Zealand and Bangladesh?
“I’d go with extra bowling depth,” Ian Bishop said firmly. “Let your batters take responsibility. Against Australia’s deep batting line-up, you need that cushion. Part-timers can’t win you a semi-final. Go in with specialists who can hold their nerve, especially on a true batting surface like DY Patil.”
