Buoyed by a hard-fought 2-1 T20I series sweep against Australia, India’s women’s team launches into ODIs on February 24. This trilogy of matches in Brisbane and Hobart offers a golden chance to topple the reigning queens of the format.
T20I saga: India stole the first via DLS (21 runs), Australia equalized by 19 runs, India clinched the third by 17. Perfect prep for ODIs.
Series blueprint:
1st ODI: Gabba, Brisbane – Feb 24, 9:20 AM IST
2nd ODI: Bellerive Oval, Hobart – Feb 27, 9:20 AM IST
3rd ODI: Bellerive Oval, Hobart – Mar 1, 9:20 AM IST
Since 1978, Australia leads 49-12 in 61 ODIs. India’s squad, however, brims with firepower: Mandhana’s elegance, Verma’s aggression, Kaur’s captaincy, Ghosh’s finishing.
India’s lineup: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Prtitika Rao, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Vaishnavi Sharma, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Kashvee Gautam.
Australia’s arsenal: Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux (c), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Alana King, Annabel Sutherland, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Darcie Brown.
A historic Test in Perth follows on March 6. As bats clash and balls swing, this series could spark a new era in Indo-Aussie women’s cricket.