'Going to be really special home World Cup for India' - Australia skipper Alyssa Healy after losing semi-finals in Navi Mumbai

Published - 31 Oct 2025, 19:02 IST | Updated - 31 Oct 2025, 19:05 IST

Australian skipper Alyssa Healy feels a new winner in the Women's World Cup will help women's cricket's cause in the future. England and Australia, both of whom have clinched multiple titles in the past, were knocked out by South Africa and India in the first and second semi-final of the Women's World Cup 2025, respectively.

Healy felt it will be 'really special' for India to gain an opportunity to play the summit clash of the ongoing tournament in front of their own passionate set of supporters. Healy remarked similar sentiments for South Africa, who are yet to win the Women's World Cup too. The wicketkeeper-batter hoped that a new champion will help boost the progress of women's cricket all over.

“To see a new winner is going to do wonders for the game. To see how well it's been supported here in India, first and foremost, I think it's great for them to be able to have the opportunity to play it at home in front of home fans in an ODI World Cup final which is going to be really special for them,” stated Healy in the post-match press conference, as quoted by India Today.

“I hope it does great things for Indian cricket and likewise for South Africa as well. I think they've been close in the past, so for them to have an opportunity in a final, yeah, it's going to be, going to be great to watch. It's going to hurt a little bit, but it's going to be really great to watch and hopefully we see it do great things for the global game and more investment in each of these nations moving forward,” she added.

Australia have won seven out of the 12 Women's World Cup tournaments so far. While India have appeared in the final of the 50-over tournament twice before (2009 and 2017), the upcoming contest will be the first time South Africa will play the all-important clash.

The final of the Women's World Cup 2025 will be played at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2. Laura Wolvaardt's team has defeated the co-hosts in the recent fixture both teams played during the round robin stage.