Building on a record-setting performance, India sets its sights on achieving a historic first-ever women’s ODI series victory against the formidable Australia when the teams meet in the final match of the three-game series on Saturday. The hosts have never triumphed over the reigning world champions in a bilateral series, and a win would not only secure that elusive victory but also boost morale and momentum as they approach the World Cup starting on September 30. However, achieving this goal will be challenging. After a disappointing start, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team rebounded with an impressive 102-run win, marking Australia’s most significant loss by runs and India’s first victory against them in 12 encounters.
Despite the record-breaking achievements, notable weaknesses remain. There were moments of excellence, yet inconsistency raises concerns, particularly when compared to the sharp fielding shown by the same squad in England a few months ago. “We did miss a few opportunities today, but our bowlers continued to provide us with chances to capitalize and maintain the outcome in our favor,” Harmanpreet acknowledged after the victory. The addition of Arundhati Reddy as a third seam option proved beneficial for India. Nevertheless, the hosts are anticipated to adopt a different lineup once again.