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NEW DELHI: The Indian Women’s team faces a crucial challenge in their bid to end a discouraging nine-match losing streak at home against a dominant Australia in the forthcoming third and final ODI, putting the spotlight particularly on Captain Harmanpreet Kaur‘s batting form.
While Kaur has demonstrated admirable leadership during the team’s extended home season, including significant victories in Test matches, her personal performance with the bat has been inconsistent. Across formats this season, she has only managed to reach double-digit scores three times in eight innings, with her highest being 49 against England in the recent one-off Test.
In the historic triumph against Australia in the one-off Test, Kaur faced a duck in the first innings and wasn’t required to bat in the second. However, in the ongoing three-match ODI series where Australia has already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead, her contributions have been modest, with scores of 9 and 5 in the two ODIs played.
While India showcased strength in the favorable conditions of the one-off Test, their vulnerabilities have resurfaced in white-ball cricket, particularly evident in the last two ODIs. Despite posting their highest-ever total of 282 for 8 in the first ODI, India’s ordinary bowling resulted in a six-wicket loss. Subsequently, in the second game, fielding blunders—seven dropped catches—allowed Australia to narrowly escape with a three-run victory.
Amidst this, Richa Ghosh’s impressive performance in the second ODI with 96 off 113 balls in a challenging chase and Jemimah Rodrigues’ consistent contributions of 82 and 44 have been instrumental for India’s batting.
Ghosh’s emergence as India’s aggressive No. 3 batter adds firepower to the top order, yet pressure mounts on players like Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma, who struggled to finish the second ODI despite a manageable run rate.
The significance of fielding was emphasized as India’s missed opportunities impacted the outcome, prompting head coach Amol Muzumdar to acknowledge that Kaur’s team remains a work in progress.
The series defeats by six wickets and then by a mere three runs extended India’s struggle against Australia in the 50-over format, as they haven’t secured a single victory in the last 16 years, dating back to February 2007.
Looking ahead to the final ODI, Muzumdar confirmed Sneh Rana’s availability after her collision in the previous game with Pooja Vastrakar. With the 2025 Women’s 50-over World Cup to be hosted by India and the squad’s core already determined, the focus now rests on overall improvement, especially in fielding.
For Australia, rectifying fielding errors from the last match is imperative. Captain Alyssa Healy’s consistent but yet-to-be substantial scores and expectations from players like Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry, who both registered fifties in the preceding ODIs, add to Australia’s anticipation for a stronger performance.
The Teams (From):
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Harleen Deol.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Darcie Brown, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.
While Kaur has demonstrated admirable leadership during the team’s extended home season, including significant victories in Test matches, her personal performance with the bat has been inconsistent. Across formats this season, she has only managed to reach double-digit scores three times in eight innings, with her highest being 49 against England in the recent one-off Test.
In the historic triumph against Australia in the one-off Test, Kaur faced a duck in the first innings and wasn’t required to bat in the second. However, in the ongoing three-match ODI series where Australia has already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead, her contributions have been modest, with scores of 9 and 5 in the two ODIs played.
While India showcased strength in the favorable conditions of the one-off Test, their vulnerabilities have resurfaced in white-ball cricket, particularly evident in the last two ODIs. Despite posting their highest-ever total of 282 for 8 in the first ODI, India’s ordinary bowling resulted in a six-wicket loss. Subsequently, in the second game, fielding blunders—seven dropped catches—allowed Australia to narrowly escape with a three-run victory.
Amidst this, Richa Ghosh’s impressive performance in the second ODI with 96 off 113 balls in a challenging chase and Jemimah Rodrigues’ consistent contributions of 82 and 44 have been instrumental for India’s batting.
Ghosh’s emergence as India’s aggressive No. 3 batter adds firepower to the top order, yet pressure mounts on players like Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma, who struggled to finish the second ODI despite a manageable run rate.
The significance of fielding was emphasized as India’s missed opportunities impacted the outcome, prompting head coach Amol Muzumdar to acknowledge that Kaur’s team remains a work in progress.
The series defeats by six wickets and then by a mere three runs extended India’s struggle against Australia in the 50-over format, as they haven’t secured a single victory in the last 16 years, dating back to February 2007.
Looking ahead to the final ODI, Muzumdar confirmed Sneh Rana’s availability after her collision in the previous game with Pooja Vastrakar. With the 2025 Women’s 50-over World Cup to be hosted by India and the squad’s core already determined, the focus now rests on overall improvement, especially in fielding.
For Australia, rectifying fielding errors from the last match is imperative. Captain Alyssa Healy’s consistent but yet-to-be substantial scores and expectations from players like Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry, who both registered fifties in the preceding ODIs, add to Australia’s anticipation for a stronger performance.
The Teams (From):
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Harleen Deol.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Darcie Brown, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.
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