Here’s how India can qualify for semifinal after loss against Australia in Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

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The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 has reached a gripping stage, with India’s path to the semi-finals hanging in the balance after back-to-back defeats. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the tournament features eight top-ranked teams competing in a round-robin format, where each side plays seven matches. The top four on the points table will qualify for the semi-finals based on their points tally and Net Run Rate (NRR).

Team India began their campaign on a high, defeating Sri Lanka in Guwahati by 59 runs (DLS) and dominating Pakistan in Colombo with an 88-run victory. However, the momentum dipped as South Africa edged them out by three wickets in Vizag, followed by a narrow loss to Australia where despite scoring 330 runs, India fell short by three wickets again. These consecutive defeats have now left India in a must-win situation entering the final phase of the league stage.

India are currently placed third on the points table but will face challenging fixtures against England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. The Women in Blue need at least two wins from these three matches to stay in strong contention for a semi-final berth. With a decent NRR cushion from earlier high-margin victories, India remain in the hunt, provided they maintain consistency and manage convincing wins in the upcoming games.

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With the league table tightly packed, the qualification permutations for India in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 revolve entirely around winning momentum and Net Run Rate (NRR) management. In this format, each win earns two points, and teams level on points are separated by their NRR. The top four teams after the 28 group matches will advance to the semi-finals.

Current status and upcoming fixtures

India currently stands at a crucial juncture after playing four matches.

Qualification scenarios

The path to the semi-finals is challenging but clear, requiring a strong finish from the hosts.

What India must do next

Given that Australia and England are firm favourites for the top two spots, the race for the remaining two semi-final places is a tight battle between India, South Africa, and New Zealand. India’s focus must shift to executing in all three departments.

Semi-final outlook

If India manages to qualify, the second semi-final is scheduled for Navi Mumbai on October 30. The venue for the first semi-final (October 29) and the Final (November 2) will be Guwahati and Navi Mumbai, respectively, unless Pakistan qualifies, in which case their knockout matches would be shifted to the neutral venue of Colombo. Despite back-to-back defeats, India, playing on home soil, still possesses the firepower to script a successful comeback and reach the final, potentially in front of a packed local audience.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.