September 17, 2025, will go down as one of the most iconic days in Indian women cricket. In Chandigarh, India not only levelled the three-match ODI series against Australia 1-1, but also achieved something no team had ever done before handing the world champions their first-ever defeat by a margin of more than 100 runs in women’s ODI history.
It was a result that stunned the cricketing world. Australia, the most dominant team in women’s cricket with decades of supremacy behind them, had never been humbled in this fashion. For India, it was more than just a win it was a statement, a declaration of intent with the Women’s World Cup just weeks away.
Batting first, India posted 292 all out in 49.5 overs, a competitive total built around the brilliance of Smriti Mandhana, who once again rose to the occasion. Her fluent stroke play anchored the innings, and her ability to switch gears at crucial moments ensured India had the momentum. Mandhana’s contribution earned her the Player of the Match award, underlining her growing stature as India’s premier batter in ODIs.
Australia, in reply, never quite found their rhythm. Young seamer Kranti Gaud, who has emerged as one of the brightest bowling talents in recent months, struck early and kept the batters under pressure. She finished with an impressive 3 for 28, dismissing the first and last batters in the innings. Supported by disciplined spells from the rest of the attack, India bowled Australia out for 190 in 40.5 overs, sealing a famous 102-run victory.
Historic Firsts
This win wasn’t just another entry in the record books it rewrote them.
- It was the first time in history that any team beat Australia by 100+ runs in women’s ODIs.
- It was India’s first victory over Australia in four years, snapping a streak of eight consecutive defeats to their archrivals.
- It ended Australia’s remarkable 13-match unbeaten streak in ODIs.
- It was also their first loss in India in 18 years, breaking a sequence of 11 straight wins on Indian soil.
- India became only the fourth team ever to successfully defend a target against Australia in ODIs.
The result also shattered a record that had stood since the dawn of women’s international cricket. Until now, Australia’s heaviest ODI defeat by runs was a 92-run loss to England at Edgbaston in the inaugural 1973 Women’s World Cup. That record stood for 52 years—until India bettered it with this commanding win.
Biggest ODI Defeats for Australia by Runs
- 102 runs – India, Chandigarh, 2025
- 92 runs – England, Edgbaston, 1973
- 88 runs – India, Chennai, 2004
- 84 runs – South Africa, North Sydney, 2024
- 82 runs – New Zealand, Lincoln, 2008
The fact that India feature twice in this list, in 2004 and now in 2025, reflects a unique ability to challenge Australia’s dominance like few other teams in world cricket.
Smriti Mandhana: The Clinical Finisher
Smriti Mandhana’s consistency has been India’s biggest weapon in recent years, and this match was no exception. Already ranked the world’s No. 1 ODI batter, she once again showcased why she is regarded as one of the finest of her generation. Her controlled aggression set the tone for India’s innings, ensuring that Australia were on the back foot from the very start. Mandhana’s innings was more than just runs it was leadership by example, the kind of clinical performance that builds belief across the dressing room.
While Mandhana dominated with the bat, Kranti Gaud continued her breakout run with the ball. In her last three ODIs, she now has a six-wicket haul against England and a three-for against Australia. Her spell in Chandigarh was all about composure, movement, and pressure. By striking early and returning to wrap up the innings, Gaud showcased not just talent, but also temperament. India’s bowling attack, often criticized for inconsistency, suddenly looks sharper with her in the ranks. If she can stay fit and keep developing, Gaud could well be the X-factor India have long been searching for.
The timing of this win could not have been better. With the Women’s World Cup 2025 starting on September 30, India desperately needed a morale boost. The 102-run hammering of Australia does more than level the ODI series—it injects belief that this team can stand toe-to-toe with the best on the biggest stage. For a side that has often faltered in crunch moments, this victory provides a psychological edge. The blueprint is clear: Mandhana leading the batting charge, supported by young match-winners like Gaud, and a team playing with fearlessness.
The series now moves into a decider with everything to play for. Regardless of the outcome, India’s historic triumph has already changed the narrative. The women in blue have shown that Australia are not invincible, and that Indian cricket is ready to challenge their supremacy. More importantly, it sets the tone for the World Cup. With form, confidence, and history on their side, India will arrive at the global event not as underdogs, but as genuine contenders.
India’s 102-run win over Australia is more than a record it is a milestone that signals a shift in women’s cricket. For a team often accused of inconsistency, this performance combined dominance, discipline, and belief. It wasn’t just about ending Australia’s streaks; it was about announcing India’s readiness for the World Cup battle ahead.
On a night of “unreal scenes” in Chandigarh, Indian women’s cricket didn’t just make history it made a statement.
