India, who lost to Australia in the group stage match in Visakhapatnam, have to fire all their cylinders in the knockout clash to overcome the Aussie challenge in front of a packed crowd at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India will be without their in-form opener Pratika Rawal, who has been ruled out of the tournament. In her place, swashbuckling batter Shefali Verma has been drafted into the squad and will be available to partner Smriti Mandhana at the top for Thursday\u2019s semifinal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the other hand, Australia are sweating on the fitness of their captain Alyssa Healy, who has been dealing with a calf strain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere will definitely be pressure when you\u2019re playing a World Cup semifinal at home, but that atmosphere can also work in India\u2019s favour. The crowd will act as the team\u2019s 12th player and give them a huge lift. Australia are tough opponent, but this Indian side has enough match-winners to challenge them. Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, and Renuka Singh Thakur have all made significant contributions through the tournament, and every player has stepped up at key moments,\" Reema said on JioStar's 'Cricket Live'.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"If India can get their opening combination right, it will make a massive difference. Australia haven\u2019t faced defeat yet, but that also brings its own pressure. On such a big stage, it will come down to which team handles the pressure better.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim highlighted that the all-important clash\u2019s fate will be decided by the team that excels in the pressure situations. He called on India not to allow Australia to snatch such moments from them by combining 'intensity, precise game planning, and effective execution'.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"If India can get their opening combination right, it will make a massive difference. Australia haven\u2019t faced defeat yet, but that also brings its own pressure. On such a big stage, it will come down to which team handles the pressure better.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"For India to succeed, it\u2019s vital to not allow such windows to open, and if they do, to shut them quickly by capitalising at the right time. India needs to combine intensity, precise game planning, and effective execution, avoiding minor errors against a side like Australia. Ultimately, those critical moments will determine the winner, and the home support will be invaluable during the semi-finals.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n