As India prepares to face Australia as soon as once more within the Girls’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal, recollections of Derby 2017 inevitably resurface — the day Harmanpreet Kaur delivered one of many best innings within the historical past of the ladies’s recreation.
Eight years in the past, below overcast skies in Derby, India surprised Australia to guide a spot within the last. Harmanpreet, then vice-captain, smashed an unbeaten 171 off simply 115 balls, an innings that redefined India’s ambitions on the world stage.
Her knock, laced with 20 fours and 7 sixes, powered India to 281 for 4 in a rain-reduced 42-over contest, which stays her highest-ever particular person ODI rating.
Australia fell 36 runs quick, struggling its solely loss in a Girls’s ODI World Cup semifinal. Deepti Sharma led the cost with a three-wicket haul, together with the large wicket of Alex Blackwell, who was 10 runs shy of a century.
The Girls in Blue, nevertheless, stumbled within the last in opposition to England, shedding by mere 9 runs.
A number of coincidences — taking part in the second semifinal, rain looming within the forecast — could also be on the minds of the Indians. However they will even be conscious about the menace posed by an unbeaten Australian facet.
With renewed confidence and residential help, India will hope to repeat its 2017 magic and take down the Alyssa Healy-led Australia on the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Revealed on Oct 30, 2025