Golden Advice for Indian Batters: Smriti Mandhana on Facing Australia in the Semis

With India ready to play Australia in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has some advice for her fellow batters before the big game. Mandhana said it's important to stay calm when things get tough and to quickly adjust to conditions that might help Australia's fast bowlers. She mentioned that doing well means forming good partnerships and choosing shots wisely, especially in the middle overs. Australia is known for being tough in knockout matches, so Mandhana’s words are a good reminder for the Indian team as they try to reach the final.

India will face Australia in the second semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 on Thursday, hoping to get closer to winning the championship. The Indian women’s team has been in the final twice before, in 2005 and 2017, but didn't win either time. To change that this time, they need to beat Australia, who have won the title seven times. Earlier in the tournament, India lost to Australia by three wickets, even after scoring 330 runs. This showed what they can do but also where they need to improve.

Before the big game, Smriti Mandhana shared some helpful tips for her batting team, telling them to stay calm and trust their skills when under pressure. “Australia is a tough team, but pressure can affect anyone,” Mandhana said. “They know what our batters can do when we play well together. The key is to enjoy the challenge, build partnerships, and take advantage of the powerplay.”

Mandhana's confidence shows how much India believes in their batting. She thinks that if India can get off to a good start and not lose wickets early, they can put Australia under pressure. “If we get settled and keep wickets in hand for the first 10–15 overs, we can change the game. Australia does well when they get early wickets — if we stop that, they’ll feel the pressure,” she added.

The Indian vice-captain also said it’s important to figure out the conditions quickly and play smart cricket. “We’ve played on this field before. We know how the ball will act, when to score runs quickly, and how to plan our innings. Choosing the right shots and rotating the strike will be very important. The team that adjusts faster will have an advantage,” she explained.

As India aims for a spot in the final, Mandhana’s advice could really help the batters. The team has a lot of confidence and experience, and the conditions should be good for hitting, so everyone will be watching the cricket live score to see how India’s top players use that advice against one of the best teams in the world.