The ICC Women's One Day World Cup 2025 has reached its most thrilling phase, with knockout matches now determining the finalists. While the first semi-final between South Africa and England has already been played in Guwahati, the highly anticipated second semi-final between India and Australia is scheduled for October 30 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. However, this crucial encounter is under a significant rain threat, raising concerns among fans and teams alike. The biggest question on everyone's mind is: if the match can't be played due to rain, which team will secure a spot in the final?
Heavy Rain Forecast in Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai has experienced intermittent rainfall over the past few days, and weather forecasts suggest similar conditions are likely to persist. According to Accuweather. com, there is a 65 percent chance of rain in Navi Mumbai on October 30. The semi-final is set to begin at 3 PM IST, but the. Afternoon hours are particularly susceptible to rainfall, which could severely disrupt play. This situation is a major worry for both teams, especially for the Indian side, for whom this match is pivotal.
ICC's Reserve Day Provision
As an ICC tournament, the World Cup includes a reserve day provision for knockout matches. If at least 20-20 overs of play aren't possible on October 30 due to. Rain or any other reason, the match will be played on the reserve day, October 31. The game will resume from the point where it was halted on the original day, while if the toss has occurred, the match will be considered 'live'. However, the weather forecast for October 31 in Navi Mumbai is also not encouraging. There is a projected 90 percent chance of rain on the reserve day, indicating that heavy rainfall is highly probable, potentially washing out both scheduled days.
**What Happens if the Reserve Day is Also Washed Out?
This is the most critical question: if the match can't yield a result even on the reserve day, which team will progress to the final, while in such a scenario, the league stage points table becomes the decisive factor. According to ICC rules, if a semi-final match is called off on both the original day and the reserve day, the team that finished higher in the league stage points table will advance to the final. Under this regulation, Australia would qualify for the final, as they were Importantly ahead of India in the points standings.
Australia's Dominant League Stage Performance
The Australian team had a stellar run in the league stage, winning 6 out of their 7 matches. Their only unplayed game, against Sri Lanka, was washed out due to rain. They remained unbeaten throughout the league stage, topping the points table. In contrast, Harmanpreet Kaur's Indian team had a mixed performance. India won 3 of their 7 league matches, lost 3, and one game was washed out without a result, while these outcomes placed the Indian team in fourth position in the standings. That's why, if the semi-final is completely washed out due to rain, Australia will gain direct entry into the final, potentially ending India's World Cup journey. This outcome would be a significant disappointment for Indian fans. And players hoping to see their team compete for the title.
