After pulling off a mammoth 102-run win in New Chandigarh on Wednesday, India will look to script history when they take on Australia in the series decider at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
The clash will also mark the return of women’s ODIs to the Capital after almost three decades — 29 years, 10 months and 10 days. Victory would hand India their maiden bilateral ODI series triumph over Australia.
Smriti Mandhana’s sublime 117 and the decision to go with six bowling options powered India to their first home ODI win over Australia in 18 years. India posted 292 — their highest total against Australia in the format — before bowling out the visitors for 190. The defeat was Australia’s heaviest by runs in women’s ODIs.
India’s rejigged bowling unit, with Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Goud leading the charge alongside the spinners, applied pressure right from the powerplay. However, concerns remain over Renuka’s fitness after she walked off mid-over and did not return to bowl. With the World Cup looming, her workload will need careful management.
The hosts will also want more from their middle order and sharper work in the field. India’s catching has been poor this year: 47 catches taken, 33 dropped, a success rate of 58.7% — only 12th out of 14 teams.
For Australia, the defeat snapped a 13-match unbeaten streak. Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland offered resistance with the bat, while Darcie Brown impressed with 3/42. But the lack of partnerships and inconsistent bowling proved costly. The visitors will wait on opener Phoebe Litchfield’s fitness after a quad strain and could bring back pace all-rounder Kim Garth.
With the series level at 1-1 and the World Cup around the corner, Saturday’s game promises a blockbuster finish.
Squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Tejal Hasabnis
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Darcie Brown, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicole Faltum, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Charli Knott, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham