A depleted Indian women’s cricket team, having already lost the first two ODIs against World Champions Australia, will look to avoid a series whitewash in the final match on Wednesday. The Indian side has struggled in both previous matches, suffering heavy defeats against the ever-spirited Australian team, led by Tahlia McGrath.
In the first ODI, Australia comfortably beat India by 5 wickets, followed by a crushing 122-run defeat in the second match. India has been outclassed by the Aussies in all three departments—batting, bowling, and fielding—making it difficult to find any phase of dominance from the Indian team in these games.
Two of India’s senior players, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, have been big disappointments so far, failing to deliver when the team needed them the most. India’s struggles were most apparent in the first match, where they were bowled out for a mere 100 runs, highlighting their ongoing difficulties in foreign conditions.
However, a ray of hope came in the second ODI with the return of wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who was promoted to open the innings and scored a confident half-century. In the bowling department, young leg-spinner Priya Mishra has shown promise, along with pace spearhead Renuka Singh, who continues to lead the attack.
India will need improved performances from their senior players and hope for more consistency from their young talents if they are to avoid a clean sweep.
Head-to-Head: Australia leads the head-to-head record, 43-10, against India in ODIs.
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Saima Thakor, Uma Chetry (wk).
Australia: Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (C), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.