IND-W vs AUS-W, 2nd ODI: India looks to turn the tide against Australia building up to the World Cup
The Women in Blue landed in India’s first planned city last week in high spirits. They had made history in England in their last series, but if they had some plans for taming mighty Australia in the refreshingly green Chandigarh, it didn’t quite work out in the first One Day International (ODI).
Even a competitive total of 281 for seven proved like a cakewalk for the mighty Aussies. It was India’s eighth defeat in a row to Australia in ODIs.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, should be desperate to set the record right in the second of the three-match series at the new PCA Stadium here on Wednesday.
RELATED: Harleen Deol calls on team to raise fielding standards after dropped catches in series opener
In the first game, it had threatened to go past 300 for the first time against Australia, with three batters in the top order — Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol — making fifties.
India needed at least one of them to remain long enough at the wicket, and the trio would be regretting the way they got out.
Add Harmanpreet, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, and you have a strong batting line-up, which could pile up runs on tracks like this.
With India’s opening match in the World Cup against Sri Lanka just a fortnight away, all its batters would be hoping to play some substantial knocks.
India will also need to catch better against a side that boasts such quality, experienced batters as skipper Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner, as well as young talents like Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland.
ALSO READ: ICC women’s ODI rankings — Smriti Mandhana reclaims No. 1 batting spot
Litchfield hadn’t opened her account when she was dropped in the second over. She went on to make 88 off 80 balls, hardly troubled by the Indian bowlers. Moreover, Mooney and Sutherland made unbeaten half-centuries.
Ultimately, India’s decision to play with four frontline spinners and just one seamer didn’t work.
It will be interesting to see if Renuka Singh, the swing bowler who is returning from injury, will be making an appearance. Her last game for India was last December.
Teams
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt..), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh, M. Shree Charani, Sneh Rana and Uma Chetry.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (Capt..), Tahlia McGrath, Nicole Faltum, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Charli Knott, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll and Georgia Wareham.
The match starts at 1.30 p.m.
Published on Sep 16, 2025
