Women’s World Cup: Can Bangladesh Upset Australia in Visakhapatnam?
By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 16, 2025 | 01:51 am
Bangladesh are all set to take on the reigning champions Australia in their next Women’s ODI World Cup match. This encounter will be a crucial test of Bangladesh’s growth as a team, especially after their narrow losses against England and South Africa in this edition of the tournament.
The last time these two teams met was in 2022, when Bangladesh put up a strong fight despite defending a modest total of 135 runs in a rain-affected match.
Player Spotlight
Key Players to Watch Out For
For Bangladesh, Marufa Akter will be a key player with the new ball. She has experienced a bit of a rough patch after making early breakthroughs against England and Pakistan, but remains a significant threat.
On the Australian side, Phoebe Litchfield is one of the young talents to keep an eye on. Although her start in her maiden ODI World Cup was somewhat subdued, the batting-friendly conditions in Visakhapatnam could help her find form, as runs have been flowing and quick bowlers have been dispatched.
Match Preview: Team News and Pitch Report
Australia are expected to stick with the same winning XI that defeated India recently, covering all bases with a balanced spin and pace attack.
Bangladesh came close to pulling off a victory against South Africa on this ground just days ago, showing significant progress. The pitches in Visakhapatnam have been generally run-friendly, offering some early swing for the seamers and good assistance for spinners when they bowl at a controlled pace below 80 km/h.
Australia and Bangladesh’s World Cup Journey So Far
Australia currently sit second in the standings, having remained unbeaten in their four matches. They have secured three victories, while one match against Sri Lanka was washed out.
Bangladesh started their campaign with an encouraging win over Pakistan but then suffered defeats against top teams like England, New Zealand, and South Africa. Notably, their games against England and South Africa were closely contested, suggesting their improvement and resilience.
Stats: Australian Players Approaching Milestones
- Ellyse Perry is 86 runs short of reaching 4,500 runs in WODIs, maintaining an impressive average of 49.04.
- Alyssa Healy, in 121 matches, has scored 3,445 runs and needs just 55 more to reach 3,500.
- Beth Mooney is 89 runs shy of the 3,000-run milestone in WODIs.
- Ashleigh Gardner is close to 1,500 runs, currently at 1,487 runs with an average of 30.34.
- Megan Schutt is four wickets away from becoming Australia’s third-highest wicket-taker in WODIs.
Probable XIs
Australia (probable): Alyssa Healy (captain & wicketkeeper), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux/Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt.
Bangladesh (probable): Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana (captain & wicketkeeper), Shorna Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter.
Head-to-Head Record
These two teams have faced each other four times in Women’s ODIs. Australia boasts a clean 4-0 winning record against Bangladesh and are yet to suffer a defeat. The pair have met once before in the Women’s World Cup.
As Bangladesh look to create an upset against the champions on a familiar pitch, the match promises to be an exciting contest with high stakes for both sides.