IND Vs AUS Women’s World Cup: Australia wins toss and opt to bowl; latest updates

As India and Australia clash in Match 13 of the ICC Women’s World Cup, a rain-threatened Visakhapatnam and a spin-friendly pitch raise big questions—can either side outplay the conditions and seize control when it matters most?

Visakhapatnam: The much‑anticipated Match 13 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 sees India Women take on Australia Women on Sunday, October 12 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA‑VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. Australia won toss and opted to bowl first. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM IST (UTC+5:30).

Pitch Report: Batters Favoured

The ACA‑VDCA surface in Visakhapatnam is generally known to be batting friendly early on, with decent bounce and run-scoring to begin. However, as the match progresses, spin bowlers tend to get more assistance on this track.

Historically, teams often prefer to bowl first upon winning the toss, hoping to exploit pitch wear and pressure while chasing. The average first-innings score at this venue is around 230.

That said, the pitch is capable of providing a fair contest—and captains must adjust tactics as conditions evolve.

Weather Report: Will rain decide the winner today?

Visakhapatnam’s weather on match day is predicted to be partly cloudy but hot, with about 25% chance of rain in the evening. Although for now, on a hot afternoon, Mithali Raj comments,”It is a well rolled surface and will be good for strokeplay. One can expect a fair contest today between both the teams.”

In the evening, showers are expected, which might delay play or even force interruptions. Given the overcast conditions, the moisture in the pitch or atmosphere may offer extra movement for seamers early on, making the powerplay crucial. Ground staff will have their work cut out—any rain during the day could slow the outfield or leave patches of dampness.

Playing squad

India Woman Squad: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh(w), Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Uma Chetry

Australia Woman Squad: Alyssa Healy(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Heather Graham, Sophie Molineux, Darcie Brown, Georgia Voll

IND W vs AUS W: India takes on Australia in crucial match; Click for details

Both teams arrive at full strength with no major injury concerns reported, adding to the drama of selection and strategy on the day.

Match Dynamics

Toss importance: Given the pitch and weather uncertainties, winning the toss could be decisive. Bowling first may allow teams to exploit any early seam or moisture, while chasing lets you know the target precisely.
Powerplay is key: With moisture possible early, batters will want to capitalise before the ball slows or spin gets grip.
Spin vs tempo balance: Teams need a mix—spinners for middle overs, medium pace or cutters to exploit variable bounce or damp patches.
Flexibility under rain: Captains may adjust plans if overs are reduced; preserving wickets and accelerating at the right moment will matter more than brute run rates.

On paper, Australia remain formidable—unbeaten and loaded with experience. But conditions in Visakhapatnam demand tactical thinking over brute force. If India’s top order handles the early spell and the spinners exploit the track later, this could be a close contest. But with clouds threatening and the toss looming, it all might come down to those first few overs.