'India have been a sleeping giant in the women's game' - Healy

As India and Australia gear up to face each other in Vizag, Alyssa Healy knows the magnitude of the challenge that awaits. It's the home team they will be facing in front of a sold-out crowd, with the promise of another high-stakes chapter in a rivalry that has only grown with time. India will be desperate to bounce back after their defeat to South Africa, and all eyes will be on how the defending champions respond to that challenge.

For the Australian captain, though, this World Cup has shown that there are no easy games and no single team to fear.

"I think the rivalry continues to grow," Healy said on the eve of the match. "I think I've said it previously that I feel like they've been a really, almost a sleeping giant in the women's game for a long period of time. It's probably since the WPL has come into play that they've realized the depth they've got and they've figured out a style of play that they want to want to use, especially in this format, and they're really sticking to that, which I think has been really impressive to see.

"So, yeah, look at them in their home conditions, they're obviously going to play really well and be a real threat. But as we've seen throughout this World Cup so far, there's lots of teams that are pushing everybody. So, I wouldn't probably say there's one team that's our main threat, but we know we're going to have to work hard in every fixture to get our result and that's the way a World Cup should be."

Healy said there's no extra pressure on Australia to face India, and in fact, they might even have a slight advantage having seen the conditions earlier in the week.

"Absolutely no extra pressure on our team. I think we've come here with the job to do and that hasn't changed at any point in time. I think getting to have a little look at the conditions the other night where India played South Africa was a nice little - some sort of an advantage for us. It's not the first game here, so we got to experience that a little bit, which was cool. But like I said, it's a fresh opportunity tomorrow at a new ground for us to go out there and play a game of cricket and hopefully adapt to conditions as quickly as what we can. But I think it's going to be a fun experience for our whole group. I've heard it sold out, which is a really cool experience and hopefully there's a few Aussie fans in the crowd as well."

When India and Australia met in a bilateral series in the lead-up, high scores were the norm, but it's been anything but that in this World Cup. Batting hasn't come easy, bowlers have dictated terms, and lower-order rescues have often made the difference. Healy, though, feels the wickets have largely remained good but it's the pressure and adaptability that have tested teams more than the conditions.

"Yeah, I think. I think the wickets have still been good. I think probably maybe a little bit of pressure has come into play at times and teams have got themselves into a little bit of a pickle," Healy said. "Obviously, Colombo was slightly different conditions than what we faced over here. So that having to adapt really quickly is going to be really important. And I still remain that - obviously we're here at a new destination, a fresh wicket, fresh outfield, fresh everything against a really good side. So, we're just going to have to pick up on that really quickly. And yeah, on the sort of collapse sort of situation. I think it's on our top order to make the bulk of the runs and I think we can speak on that from both sides.

"I think that's what makes this World Cup so unique, is that you don't get an opportunity to settle. Obviously, in a bilateral series, you get a really good look at the opposition, you can put some plans in place and then off you go for the next game. And it kind of ebbs and flows a little bit in that regard, whereas you literally only get one shot against an opposition in different conditions. So that's what makes it really challenging to win, and that's what the beauty of it is. So, it's just up to us as a group to assess the conditions as quickly as what we can. We know the 11 that we'll put out there can get the job done and hopefully we can just put it all together when it counts."

With scores generally lower and teams often losing early wickets, there has been talk about whether it's wiser to hold back in the powerplay instead of attacking early. Healy, however, believes those first few overs remain crucial in shaping a game.

"Actually - yes and no. I actually still think the power play plays a crucial role in this World Cup. I think if you can get off to a pretty decent start. It seems to be throughout the middle overs that some sides have been managing to squeeze oppositions, but I still think if you can get off to a good start and set a platform, that's going to be really important to putting a good total out there or chasing something down.

"There's a little bit of a fine balance in that regard, but I think both of us at the top of the order are quite aggressive players, so we're not exactly going to curb that at any point. It's just probably making a few better decisions and taking a few smarter options, knowing, and feeling the conditions out there at that moment in time, and hopefully that'll lay the platform for what is a really dominant middle order of ours to set a big total or, like I said, chase it down."

Australia, though unbeaten, haven't been at their best so far in the tournament. Against Pakistan, they were in real trouble at 76 for 7 before Beth Mooney produced a masterclass and took them to 222. From there, the bowlers ran through Pakistan's top order and sealed the win. Healy isn't too concerned about those batting stumbles.

"No, not really. I mean, we're allowed to lose games of cricket and we're allowed to be put under pressure at times, in particular in World Cups," Healy said. "I think you're going to be put under the pump in unfamiliar conditions, against unfamiliar sides at times. I think that's the nature of the game, and like I've said all along, I really back our depth in our side and also in our squad that the 11 that we put out on the park are going to be able to get the job done for us. And we're fortunate that it's been a different person every time that stuck their hand up and said, yep, I've got this, I can get us to a total or I can take the wickets to restrict the team.

"So, yeah, I wouldn't say it's a worry. It's something we'd like to rectify and I think there's a lot of teams that are probably wanting to rectify that as well. But tomorrow, I guess is another opportunity to go out there and hopefully lay a platform if it is our opportunity with that in hand."