India women vs Australia 1st ODI Highlights: Aussies win by six wickets, lead series 1-0

India women vs Australia women, 1st ODI result: Jemimah Rodrigues’ 77-ball 82 goes in vain as Australia end up chasing the 283-run target set by the Women in Blue with six wickets and more than three overs to spare. Opener Phoebe Litchfield (78) and all-rounder Ellyse Perry (75) lead the way for the Southern Stars, helping them recover from a shaky start with a 148-run second-wicket stand while Tahlia McGrath provides the finishing touch with a 55-ball 68, finishing the job for her team.

India won the toss and decided to bat in the first of three ODIs. Saika Ishaque makes her ODI debut, not long after making her first T20I appearance against England. Smriti Mandhana is missing from India’s lineup as she’s reported unwell. For Australia, fast bowler Darcie Brown returned from the injury she picked up against West Indies in October.

INDW XI: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia(w), Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Thakur Singh, Saika Ishaque

AUSW XI: Phoebe Litchfield, Alyssa Healy(w/c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

Preview: After clinching back-to-back Test wins, India will shift focus to the ODI format with a three-match series against a formidable Australia. The series will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

With focus on 2024 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and 2025 ODI World Cup in India, India women’s team coach Amol Muzumdar stressed on the need for taking a long-term approach. This strategic change stems from the team’s tendency to falter in key situations, forcing a concentrated effort.

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“I will not shy away from saying that we have not had a look at the bigger picture. But at the same time, do not lose focus on the current happenings,” Muzumdar said in a pre-match press conference in Mumbai.

“Yes, they (Australia) are a good team. They have been doing well in the past, but the message is very clear to the team - we would look inwards. We would look to improve on every given opportunity on every single day. If we can do that, I will be happy,” he said.

India’s record against Australia doesn’t help the team’s morale. India have registered just 10 wins and 40 losses from 50 ODIs against Australia. At home, India have won just four and lost 17 with the Aussies winning the last seven in a row.

In fact, the last time India and Australia played at this venue in a 50-over match, the home team suffered heavy defeats in March 2012, losing by 221 runs and five wickets.

Squads:

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Harleen Deol.

Australia: Darcie Brown, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alyssa Healy (c&wk), Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.