How can India replicate Mumbai miracle against Australia in Women's T20 World Cup 2026?

India are set to play a must-win game against Australia on Sunday, June 28.

The Indian Women’s Cricket Team are scheduled to clash with Australia in their last league match of Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, June 28, at the Lord’s, London. This is a must win game for India in context of the qualification for semi-finals, while Australia have most likely booked their berth.

The Women in Blue are ranked second in the Group A, and are in still contention for the semi-final alongside South Africa and Bangladesh. The other two will play their last league game on Sunday as well. All three of these teams are on 6 points each.

If Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. win against Australia tomorrow, they have a straightforward chance of qualification, because of a superior Net Run Rate (NRR). However, if India lose, then they will need some results to go their way for their qualification.

Although India have had some problems in their team with regards to some individual performances, but Smriti Mandhana and Sree Charani have shone with their match-winning efforts, being the highest run-scorer and wicket-taker for India, respectively.

The Women in Blue have played such nail-biting encounters before, and have come out triumphant. One of which was recently against the Aussies, in the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.

What happened when India and Australia faced last time in ICC event?

Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. played Australia in the Semi-Final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 at Navi Mumbai on 30th October. They won the match by 5 wickets on the back of spectacular innings by Jemimah Rodrigues, while chasing 339.

India were put to field first, and they conceded 338 runs in the 50 overs. Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma bowled exceptionally with two wickets each, while Renuka Singh was economical.

While chasing, the Indian openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti got out in the powerplay itself. It was then when extraordinary innings from Jemimah and the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur came, which took India past 220. Kaur got out for 89, but Jemimah kept going. She was incredibly intense and animated throughout the chase, and it was only after the final runs when she showed some emotions.

It was the first time ever that a 300-plus total was chased in a World Cup knockout. That run-chase was truly one of the miraculous events for India in that campaign. Following that victory, India also went on to lift their maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title in November, 2025.

Can India pull off a heist like Mumbai 2025?

The way India won that encounter, and made way for their third World Cup final, the question remains, whether they will be able to pull off something similar tomorrow.

India have capable players in the side, including Smriti, Jemimah, Harmanpreet, Richa, Deepti Sharma and even Shafali Verma. Sree Charani, who is the No.1 ranked T20I bowler currently, has been performing consistently for India.

It will be a tough affair for India, as Australia have won all of their four matches so far, and are at the top of the table in Group A. They have most likely qualified for the Semi-Final. It is a must-win game for India, and they have played such close encounters before.

Although in 2025 the format was One-day international, and this World Cup is a T20 format, but the team composition is fairly similar.

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