India Women are flying high after two consecutive Test wins and will now shift focus to white-ball cricket as they take on seven-time world champions Australia in a three-match ODI series beginning at the Wankhede on Thursday.
India will also be looking to resurrect their dismal record in the format.
They have been in top form winning their last three contests — two Tests and one T20I — after losing the first two T20Is to England and conceding the three-match series in this long home season.
After crushing England by a record 347 runs in the one-off Test, India carried the momentum to defeat Australia by eight wickets last week at the Wankhede. Given their current form, India will look to extend their winning run, but the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side would know that a huge task awaits them against Australia, who have been far superior in 50-over cricket.
India have only 10 wins and 40 losses to show from 50 ODIs against Australia overall. At home, their record has been terrible. With only four wins and 17 defeats, India have not beaten Australia in any of their last seven matches at home since February 2007.
However, under a new leadership pair of skipper Harmanpreet and head coach Amol Muzumdar, it will be a perfect opportunity to bolster their preparation for the ODI World Cup in 2025. These games will also bring about a chance to improve their poor record in 50-over cricket against the Australians.
India have added fresh talent to their arsenal going into this white-ball leg against Australia with the exciting Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Mannat Kashyap and Titas Sadhu getting their maiden ODI call-ups. However, they will be without Devika Vaidya, who was dropped despite taking six wickets in three matches in Bangladesh.
While Jemimah Rodrigues has been India’s top run-maker in three ODIs this year with 129 runs, it’s left-handed opener Beth Mooney for Australia who has accumulated 387 runs with one century and two fifties in 11 matches.
Phoebe Lichfield and Ellyse Perry have also been amongst runs for the visitors, who will be keen to bring their A-game back after a poor show in the Test.
