Visakhapatnam: Australia's skipper, Alyssa Healy, has identified India as a formidable threat in the ongoing Women's World Cup, acknowledging the fierce rivalry between the two cricketing powerhouses. As the two teams prepare to face off in a highly anticipated match in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, Healy highlighted India's growing strength, particularly in the ODI format, and their comfort level in home conditions.
"I think the rivalry continues to grow," Healy said ahead of the match. "I think I've said it previously that I feel like they've been a really, almost a sleeping giant in the women's game for a long period of time". She further added that the Women's Premier League (WPL) has played a significant role in India's rise, allowing them to discover their depth and a style of play that suits them.
Despite Australia's historical dominance in ODIs against India, with 48 wins to India's 11, Healy is wary of theprogress Harmanpreet Kaur's side has made. "India and Australia play each other a lot these days, so the rivalry has really blossomed," Healy noted. "We know how much India wants to beat Australia, and we're equally driven to dominate here. That contest has become fierce over the years".
Australia enters the match sitting atop the table with five points, boosted by comprehensive wins over New Zealand and Pakistan. However, Healy downplayed the favorites tag, suggesting that the home conditions favor India. "It's news to me that people consider us favourites for this tournament," she stated. "I think it should actually favour India to take the trophy at home. They're really comfortable in their own conditions and are in a great place to challenge us".
Healy also reminisced about Australia's strong World Cup record in India, recalling her experience as a "drinks runner" during the 2013 World Cup. "I was reminded before coming here that Australia has never lost a World Cup in India, so no pressure whatsoever!" she said.
While Australia has shown vulnerability with top-order collapses in their previous matches, Healy remains confident in her team's depth and ability to adapt. She also expects Sophie Molineux to play a key role in the match against India, potentially exploiting India's historical struggles against left-arm spin.
India, on the other hand, is aiming to bounce back from a recent loss to South Africa. All-rounder Sneh Rana believes the team has the resilience to overcome the defeat and focus on the next challenge. Despite the pressure, India's familiarity with the conditions and the strong support from the home crowd could prove to be advantageous.
The upcoming clash between India and Australia is poised to be a thrilling contest, with both teams determined to assert their dominance in the Women's World Cup. Healy's acknowledgment of India as a "real threat" underscores the growing intensity of this rivalry and the high stakes of the match.
