Perth, Dec 10 – A battered and bruised India will look to avoid a clean sweep and address some glaring concerns ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup when they face Australia in the third and final Women’s ODI at Perth on Wednesday.
The ongoing three-match series against the seven-time defending world champions has served as a harsh reality check for India, with issues in batting, bowling, and fielding contributing to their struggles. A record 122-run defeat in the second ODI exposed India’s vulnerabilities, with their chase of Australia’s mammoth total of 371/8 falling apart despite occasional brilliance from their batters.
Batting Concerns: Kaur and Mandhana Under Pressure
India’s biggest disappointment has come from their two star players – captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana.
Mandhana, who was in excellent form earlier this year, has been unable to find her rhythm in Australia. After scoring a match-winning century in India’s 2-1 home series victory over New Zealand in October, she has posted scores of just 8 and 9 in the current series. The stylish opener, who had scored over 450 runs at a 70-plus average this year, will be eager to rediscover her form.
Harmanpreet, on the other hand, has struggled to convert starts into big scores, managing just 57 runs in the first two matches. Both her captaincy and batting have come under scrutiny after India’s early exit from the T20 World Cup earlier this year, and the team will need a solid performance from her in the final ODI to regain some momentum.
Bright Spot in Richa Ghosh
In the absence of the out-of-form Shafali Verma, India experimented with different combinations. One of the few bright spots has been Richa Ghosh, who impressed with a spirited 54 in the second ODI. Her knock was the highest score by an Indian batter in the series, contrasting with the two centuries and two fifties scored by Australian batters, highlighting the struggles of the Indian batting line-up. In the opening ODI, only four Indian batters managed to reach double digits.
Bowling and Fielding Woes
India’s bowlers have also struggled, with issues such as conceding eight runs in wides in the second ODI and dropping several crucial catches. These lapses in the field allowed Australia to post their third-highest ODI total of all time.
“We need to bat longer and play full 50 overs moving forward. In bowling, we need to go back and think about plans,” said Harmanpreet after the second ODI, underlining the areas that require immediate improvement.
Australia’s Dominance and Emerging Talent
Meanwhile, Australia’s next generation has stepped up in style during this series, despite the absence of regular captain Alyssa Healy. Tahlia McGrath has led from the front, and 21-year-old debutant Georgia Voll has been a revelation. Voll, who was handed the opener’s role in Healy’s absence, anchored a modest 101-run chase with an unbeaten 46 in her debut ODI and followed it up with a stunning maiden century in the second match. Alongside veteran Ellyse Perry, Voll dismantled India’s struggling bowling attack.
Rookie Leg-Spinner Priya Mishra Shines for India
For India, rookie leg-spinner Priya Mishra has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise challenging series. The 20-year-old has shown promise, taking two wickets while defending a small total in the second ODI, and will look to make an impact again in the final match.
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Uma Chetry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Saima Thakor.
Australia: Tahlia McGrath (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Darcie Brown, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
Match Start: 8:50 AM IST
