As the cheers from the packed stands in Mullanpur and Delhi still linger, the Indian women cricket team finds itself buzzing with a mix of exhilaration and resolve.
The three-match ODI series against Australia, concluding on September 20, 2025, served as more than a routine bilateral contest it was a crucial litmus test ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, kicking off on September 30 across India and Sri Lanka. Hosts India will open against Sri Lanka in Barsapara, and this series against the defending champions provided invaluable insights into the challenges and strengths that could define their campaign.
Australia edged the series 2-1, but the journey from a humbling loss to a historic high and a near-miraculous chase painted a picture of a team on the cusp of something special, while underscoring the fine margins in global cricket.
The curtain-raiser on September 14 in Mullanpur saw India grind out 281/7, courtesy of composed fifties from opener Pratika Rawal (64), Smriti Mandhana (58), and Harleen Deol (54). It promised much, but Australia pounced with ruthless efficiency, chasing it down in 44.1 overs for the loss of just two wickets. Phoebe Litchfield’s fluent 88 laid the foundation, with Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 77 and Annabel Sutherland’s brisk 54* sealing an eight-wicket romp. The message was clear: Australia’s top-order firepower can overwhelm even on home turf.
But the second ODI on September 17 flipped the narrative in spectacular fashion. With Jemimah Rodrigues sidelined by viral fever Reddy stepping in as her replacement Mandhana, 12th ODI century: a fiery 117 off 91 balls (her ton off 77 balls, the second quickest for India). Supported by Deepti Sharma’s steady 40, India tallied 292 in 49.5 overs. Then came the riposte: a seam-spin combine led by Kranti Goud (3/28) and Deepti (2/24) dismantled Australia for 190, scripting a 102-run demolition the visitors’ heaviest ODI defeat ever and India’s first home ODI win over them since 2007.
It wasn’t mere revenge; it was a seismic shift, leveling the series 1-1 and injecting belief.
The finale in Delhi on September 20? Pure, unadulterated drama. Australia unleashed 412 all out in 47.5 overs—their joint-highest ODI total and the highest ever against India propelled by Beth Mooney’s blistering 138 off 75 balls (the joint-second fastest women’s ODI century) and Annabel Voll’s 81. Ellyse Perry’s 68 added muscle, with Arundhati Reddy’s 3/86 providing India’s lone spark. In response, India summoned grit and glory: Mandhana’s second ton of the series (125 off 63 balls, her hundred off 50 the second-fastest in women’s ODIs) fused with Deepti’s 72 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 52, pushing them to 369 all out in 47 overs.
A 43-run shortfall, yes, but 781 combined runs at over eight an over with 109 boundaries, it shattered records and showcased India’s chasing mettle, even in defeat.
Spotlight on India: A Performance of Peaks and Perseverance
Smriti Mandhana, with 300 runs across two centuries at a strike rate of 138.25, was the undisputed series star—her aggressive has redefined India’s powerplay blueprint. The batting lineup’s depth was a revelation: seven players notched aggregates over 1,000 runs series-wide, with middle-order resilience from Harmanpreet and Deepti turning pressures into platforms. Bowling highlights included the spin stranglehold from Deepti (4 wickets) and Sneh Rana on turning tracks, plus emerging seam threat from Renuka Singh and Goud (5 wickets) highest wicket taker in series jointly with Schutt. Flaws surfaced, though.
Fielding errors seven dropped catches and misfields proved costly, gifting Australia lifelines in the opener and decider. The attack, while potent in spells, bled runs in powerplays and death (economy over 6.5 against Australia’s top three), exposing vulnerabilities to calculated aggression. Still, this series caps a stellar year: nine ODI wins in 11 outings, blending boldness with backbone as the World Cup looms.
Start with the silver linings they’re the sparks for silverware. Mandhana’s transformation into a powerplay destroyer (India eclipsed Australia’s 77/1 in ten overs with 96/2 in the decider) sets a template for explosive starts. The tail’s tenacity, from Richa Ghosh’s cameos to Deepti’s all-round poise, elevated modest platforms to daunting totals over 280 twice here. Bowling variety shone too: Goud’s five wickets at 27.80 average signal a revitalized seam unit post-Renuka’s return, while Reddy’s inclusion added bite.
This prep sharpened home-soil edges: dew-laden day-nighters and subcontinental bounce at venues like Guwahati and Indore will feel familiar. India outscored Australia in the decider (369 vs. 412) and defended emphatically once—proof they can match the best in run-fests. With roaring crowds and tailored conditions, they’re not just participants; they’re primed predators.
Bridging the Gaps: Where India Lags Behind the Giants
The thrill masked telling truths: those razor-thin edges where champions pull away. Versus Australia, chasing eluded grasp the opener’s middle-order wobble when 100 runs loomed, and death-over leaks (10+ per over) let Mooney and Perry dictate. Fielding’s sloppiness amplified it; seven drops turned tight contests loose. Spinners controlled, but pacers faltered against composure.
Broaden to New Zealand’s seam-savvy grit (Sophie Devine’s nous thriving on Guwahati swing, where India’s top order has faltered) and England’s seamless rotation (Nat Sciver-Brunt’s balance outpacing India’s mid-over dots). Australia (seven World Cup crowns) never lose bilaterals in India through execution; NZ and England rarely crack in knockouts. India’s chase economy hit 6.5+ versus Australia’s sub-5.5—the divide? Clutch mindset and athletic fieldwork, where the elites excel.
Charting the Path to Glory: What India Must Do
That maiden World Cup slipping away in 2017 and 2022 finals demands a roadmap of steel and savvy. Harness home pitches: weaponize Indore and Visakhapatnam turn for Rana and Deepti’s mid-innings chokeholds, echoing the 102-run clinic. Infuse batting fearlessness Mandhana’s template to Harmanpreet for earlier unleashing, ditching mid-game hesitations.
Fielding and fitness? Non-negotiable. Coach Amol Muzumdar must rams drills and sprints England’s 2022 triumph hinged on hustle. Infuse youth in warm-ups versus NZ as to builds depth. Mentally, channel Deepti’s cool; Harmanpreet’s tactics bolder proactive changes, fearless calls. With million on the line and a billion eyes, play audacious, not anxious.
The nucleus is robust, but adaptability crowns queens. For spin-dominant or pace-testing, anchor with Jemimah (if fit) at three, shifting Deol to four. Loading with spinners or finding the best pace-spin combinatios, for tightening middles overs 11-40.
Best Possible XI: Rawal, Mandhana, Rodrigues (or Deol), Harmanpreet (c), Ghosh (wk), Deepti, Rana, Yadav, Goud, Charini and Renuka.
Balances blitz up front, spin depth, seam snap and selective rests for Mandhana and Harmanpreet ensure knockout zest. Just a week from curtain-rise, this series isn’t setback it’s setup. India, battle-hardened and buoyant, eyes history. The crown? Within striking distance.
Gear up the Women in Blue are charging.
