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At this point in a World Cup, we might as well be honest. During the group game against Australia a week ago, India choked. Deciding which of those sides will make the final will depend on whether India chokes again.
The team in baby blue stunned everyone in this tournament with a first-up win over England that was dashing, courageous and bold.
This was followed up with comprehensive wins over some of the tournament's lesser lights, still notable for how thorough India was in collecting them.
But when it came to taking on the defending champions, the attitude fell apart — boldness retreated into timidity.
One early wicket, having already been sent in to bat, and India shut up shop. Captain Mithali Raj had come in after a big opening partnership against England and rollicked to 71 at nearly a run a ball. At one stage against Australia she was 33 off 81.
Of course, different situations call for different approaches. She played this card herself after the Australia game, saying she had been unable to play with freedom throughout her career due to being the most relied-upon player in the team.
This is all well and good, but there is still a balance to be struck. Raj did not need to be blasting boundaries over cover against Australia. That did not mean she could not have been more proactive in rotating the strike, finding extra runs in relatively low-risk fashion.
Instead, the very possibility of losing, of a collapse, cowed her into defending balls straight back to the bowler. The aura of Australia was enough to bring out that fear.
India went at nearly six runs an over for their last 30, but the paucity of scoring in the first 20 was enough to keep them to a total easily chased down.
It is not that India has no history at the business end of World Cups — the women's team made semi-finals in 1997 and 2000, the final in 2005, and came third in a league format in 2009 — but even then the team seemed more a token inclusion among the big powers.
In the past few global tournaments, those appearances have fallen away, as has a nervous side whenever the possibility of success became intoxicatingly strong.
The 2013 World Cup and the 2016 World Twenty20 were both held in India, but the pressure of apparent home advantage created a nervous shadow of a team.
This is the baggage the current Indian side is looking to have destroyed by airport security. After the timid Australia loss, India faced a must-win contest against New Zealand. The other India and the other Raj emerged.
This time the captain scored 109 from 123, more than fast enough, especially with Veda Krishmurthy — run out for a diamond duck against Australia — savaging the bowling at the other end with 70 from 45.
Buoyed by their batting, India rattled through the opposition in the chase and qualified for this semi-final. The key now is making sure this is the team that shows up for Australia at the second attempt.
Not that a buccaneering approach will be easy against Australia. Leading into the semi-finals, the Aussies had three of the top four bowlers for the tournament in terms of number of dot balls: Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen and Ellyse Perry.
Wickets have been shared around, every Australian in the top order has made runs at some stage, every squad player has had at least one game and matches have been won by general contribution rather than solo triumph.
Australia's preferred approach has been to chase, but with a slower wicket likely in Derby, and a raft of Indian spinners available, that approach will likely change should Meg Lanning call correctly at the toss.
It will be intriguing to see which of the spin brigade will play. Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav throw up looping balls that turn from leg to off, one with the left arm and one with the right. Harmanpreet Kaur has the genuine bag of liquorice all-sorts. Deepti Sharam bowls gorgeously shaped off-breaks. Rajeshwari Gayakwad just took five-for with left-arm spin.
India, too, will be desperate to bat first to put pressure on Australia. Having played four games at Derby this tournament to Australia's none must be some sort of advantage, as India should more quickly gauge how to pace an innings in the conditions.
An Australian top order that likes the ball coming on to the bat could well give up wickets to mistimed shots if spin plays an early part on a pitch that holds up, though the Australians have been proactive at using their feet in every game they have played.
For India to win, it will take two substantial contributions from within the top five. Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut both have hundreds at this tournament, Raj is the blue-chip stock of the blue-cap team, Krishnamurthy showed her recent worth, and Harmanpreet may have been saving her best work for this match. The class is there, now for the performance.
For Australia to win, it will take more of the same. Frugal and accurate bowling from the aforementioned three, the swing of Megan Schutt, the suffocation of Kristen Beams, Alyssa Healy's fast hands behind the stumps, and the relentless run-scoring of Perry, Lanning, and the two openers.
One outcome is far more expected than the other, but that is the lure of the unknown. Only one Australia has shown up to matches at this tournament. It is down to India to decide which team is on its way to join in.
Topics: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, australia