Alyssa Healy’s Australian side had looked unstoppable at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 for weeks. They dominated every group match, entered the knockouts as the only unbeaten team and seemed well on track to defend their title. But cricket, as always, had other plans. In a thrilling do-or-die clash, hosts India pulled off a sensational chase, ending Australia’s run and sending shockwaves through the tournament.
Batting first, Australia posted a formidable 338, powered by Phoebe Litchfield’s brilliant century and a steady partnership with Ellyse Perry. Yet, India rose to the occasion. Jemimah Rodrigues played the innings of her life, remaining unbeaten on 127, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur added a composed 89. Together, they guided India to victory with five wickets to spare, knocking out the defending champions in front of a roaring home crowd.
A week after that unforgettable night, Alyssa Healy spoke candidly on a podcast about how the defeat still hurts her. She admitted that while she is proud of how her team performed throughout the tournament, the loss to India was tough to digest. The Australian captain shared that the team had played incredible cricket over seven weeks but somehow couldn’t overcome the one hurdle that mattered the most. She described the feeling as “disappointing” yet remained optimistic about what the team could achieve in the next cycle.
Reflecting on the match, Alyssa Healy said that despite scoring 338, she felt they were slightly below par. During the partnership between Perry and Litchfield, the team had been aiming for a total closer to 350, which she believes might have made a crucial difference. She also lamented the missed chances in the field, acknowledging that two dropped catches off Jemimah Rodrigues ultimately cost them dearly.
Alyssa Healy opened up about her own dismissal too, explaining that lighting and sightscreen issues made it a frustrating moment. Had play stopped just a minute earlier, she might have avoided losing her wicket under those tricky conditions.
Even through the disappointment, Alyssa Healy was gracious in defeat. She praised India for their composure and called the win an important moment for women’s cricket globally. Though she admitted the loss will “haunt” her for a while, she ended on a note of pride and hope, proud of her team’s resilience and confident that this setback will only make them stronger.
For Alyssa Healy and her team, the World Cup may have ended in heartbreak but the spirit they displayed has once again shown why Australia remains a powerhouse in women’s cricket — resilient, relentless and always ready to rise again.
