Australia are set to make a pivotal change for their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup clash against India in Vizag on Sunday, with left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux likely to return to the playing XI.
Molineux, who sat out the 107-run victory over Pakistan in Colombo as she continued her recovery from injury, has been declared fit and available. Captain Alyssa Healy hinted that the spinner’s inclusion is under strong consideration given the conditions and opposition.
“She is available for tomorrow’s fixture, and what our XI looks like, I’m not 100 percent sure just yet,” Healy said. “She’s a great matchup against this opposition, especially in these conditions. It’s really nice to have her back.”
Australia’s confidence in recalling Molineux is bolstered by India’s well-documented struggles against left-arm spin during the tournament. Both Inoka Ranaweera (Sri Lanka) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa) managed to dismantle India’s top order with sharp turn and accuracy — a pattern Australia will be keen to exploit.
India Weigh Bowling Boost After Narrow Setback
For India, the focus turns to fine-tuning their bowling attack following a heartbreaking loss to South Africa. The think tank is reportedly considering the return of Radha Yadav, whose left-arm spin could offer balance, and Renuka Singh, a seasoned pacer capable of providing early breakthroughs.
All-rounder Sneh Rana remained tight-lipped about potential changes but insisted that morale remains high within the squad.
“The confidence is really high,” Rana said. “We’ve been planning well, everyone knows their roles, and we’re approaching the game with a positive mindset.”
Rana added that the team has quickly moved on from their previous defeat, focusing instead on the challenge of facing a full-strength Australian side in front of a sold-out Vizag crowd.
“That’s the beauty of this team — we learn from setbacks. Winning and losing are both part of the game, but what defines us is how we bounce back,” she explained. “We’ve regrouped, studied our mistakes, and we’re ready to take on the next challenge.”
Battle of Mindsets and Matchups
With Australia eyeing a semi-final berth and India looking to regain momentum, Sunday’s clash promises to be one of the tournament’s most intriguing encounters. The duel between Australia’s aggressive batting order and India’s spin-heavy attack could well determine the outcome.
Both teams enter the fixture aware of the stakes — and the thin margin for error. For Australia, Molineux’s return could provide the edge on a spin-friendly surface. For India, composure and clarity will be key as they look to silence their critics and reignite their World Cup campaign.
India Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud. Reserves: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare.
Australia Squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.