Haunted by India loss, Australia skipper Alyssa Healy says couldn't watch the final

 Haunted by India loss, Australia skipper Alyssa Healy says couldn't watch the final

The sting of defeat can long keeps resonant even after the last ball has been bowled, and that may just be the layout for Australia's women's cricket captain Alyssa Healy, whose team suffered defeat in the semi-final against India. The Indians pulled off a record chase in one of the most thrilling matches of the 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, ousting the favorites, Australia. That night in Navi Mumbai at the DY Patil Stadium still feels like an unfinished chapter for Healy-and the Australian wicketkeeper admitted she hasn't revisited those scenes.

In an honest interview, Healy admitted she hadn't been able to watch the end. "It still haunts me," she said; there could have been little that had ever been said more honestly on a cricket field, and little outside it that would have resonated further than this. But it was in its honest aftermath that the emotional repercussions of that game exposed just how deep the cut was. Australia, a team synonymous with dominance and precision, had played good cricket to most of the tournament. Yet, as Healy admitted, they fell short at the crucial moment.

Australia's total, though competitive, felt a tad under par to their skipper. She reflected that the team had left a few runs behind - small margins that make all the difference in knockout cricket. Conditions, too, played their part. The red soil pitch at DY Patil behaved differently under lights - slow and sticky at first, skidding on later. As India's chase gained momentum, Australia's bowlers struggled to changet, & the fielding lapses only pushed them further behind.

Healy's regret wasn't just about the runs or the conditions. It was about the missed chances-the dropped catches, the half opportunities that could have flung the game back in their favour. "We created chances but couldn't capitalise," she said. The admission wasn't one of blame, but of reflection-a leader taking responsibility for a moment that slipped through collective fingers.

The defeat has further forced Australia to face a shifting landscape in women's cricket. Once untouchable, they now face a Infernal ware from a rejuvenated Indian side that thrives under pressure. India's performance - driven by the brilliance of its younger batting line-up and the unrelenting spirit of its bowlers - symbolised the new era of women's cricket, where no team is invincible.

For Healy, who confirmed this would be her last ODI World Cup, the hurt of this semifinal loss runs deeper. It was the end of an era, not only for her but for a generation of Australian players that changed the face of women's cricket. But in her heartbreak, there's a silent admission: that even the greatest champions are shaped just like much by their defeats like by their victories. As Healy looks ahead, her focus is probably to shift to nurturing the next generation — ensuring that Australia continues to evolve. The haunting memory of that night in Mumbai may never completely disappear but further stands like a reminder that greatness rises again — often rebuilt from lessons learned in those losses.