History beckons India in a most historic city.
The Women in Blue are in striking distance of beating Australia in a bilateral series for the first time ever. If they could carry on their form from the neighbouring Chandigarh — where they inflicted on the Aussies their heaviest defeat in the format (in terms of runs) — in the final ODI at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, they will be pulling one of their greatest achievements.
And with the World Cup getting underway on September 30, the timing could hardly have been better. But, the Indians know that it won’t be easy against Alyssa Healy’s women.
The Australians had won their last 13 ODIs in a row before they were outplayed by the host on Wednesday. They would surely be determined to show the world why they have been such a formidable team for so long.
They would particularly be keen to send Smriti Mandhana back to the dressing room as quickly as possible. The elegant left-hander has been a smiling assassin of the visiting bowlers in the last two games.
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In the first match, she made 58 off 63 balls before she was run out following a mix-up with her opening partner Pratika Rawal. In the second, she went on to make a century – her 12th in ODIs – and her 117 off 91 balls helped India register its highest total in the format against this opponent. The total, then, would prove just too much even for Australia’s strong batting line-up.
The vice-captain may be at her best, but India would want its captain Harmanpreet Kaur, too, to get into form. In the last match, apart from Smriti, only all-rounder Deepti Sharma had managed to reach 40.
In that game, India’s bowling clicked. The experienced seamer Renuka, who was returning from injury, and her young partner Kranti Goud, forced Australia to the back foot with the new ball and they were well backed up by the spinners.
Australian would want to ensure that its unbeaten record in the bilateral series against India, dating back to 1984, is maintained. It will be looking to its captain Healy, who could just make 27 and nine in the series so far, to lead from the front once again. And its bowlers would be keen to be more restrictive.
Published on Sep 19, 2025
