Trisha Ghosal in Mullanpur
After 18 years, India finally ticked one of the biggest boxes just before the ODI World Cup — beating Australia at home. The hosts sealed a famous win by 102 runs.
Australia won the toss and chose to bowl. Smriti Mandhana produced a masterful 117 to set the tone, while Deepti Sharma anchored the middle overs in Jemimah Rodrigues’ absence. Sneh Rana chipped in with a vital 24 to push India to 292 all out.
India’s bowling was strengthened by the return of Renuka Singh Thakur, who struck in her very first over to remove Georgia Voll. Kranti Goud followed in the next over, dismissing Alyssa Healy. A dream start for the seamers saw captain Harmanpreet Kaur extend their spells. Renuka, coming back from a long injury layoff, bowled six consecutive overs — a risky move with the World Cup looming. When she returned for a second spell, she pulled up after just three deliveries. Fortunately for India, her services weren’t required again on the night.
None of the Australian batters, apart from Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland, found any rhythm. The slow outfield played its part too — balls that looked destined for the ropes often held up, restricting Australia to twos instead of boundaries. Every time the Aussies cleared the infield, the ball bounced like a golf ball in the outfield and stopped.
What stood out most was India’s ground fielding. Although they shelled three catches that could have proven costly against Australia on another day, the energy and effort across the field were exceptional. The bowlers complemented this with clever variations, especially the slower ball, and kept striking at regular intervals. Australia managed just one fifty-run stand. Kranti took three wickets and Deepti claimed two. The rest of the attack chipped in with one apiece, alongside a run out by Sneh Rana.
The win levelled the series 1-1, setting up a mouth-watering decider in Delhi. Can India now clinch back-to-back series victories over England and Australia to carry a winning momentum into the World Cup?
Ellyse Perry
on Pitch – The pitch was a good batting pitch, the Indian bowlers bowled a tight line, they didnot give us any room to play with. The pitch dint change its nature in either innings, we dint bat well. We couldnt execute the horizontal bat shots.
Perry’s game plan – Even after three quick wickets, Sutherland and I thought the match was still on. We wanted to form a partnership and take it deep but thats dint work out we kept losing wickets.
Smriti Mandhana – Smriti makes batting look easy. It wasnt great watching her innings (laughs). But everyone enjoys watching her bat, she is a good batter and she played brilliantly.
Kranti Goud
Q: Kranti, after 18 years, India have beaten Australia at home. When you lost the last match, what did the team management say to you?
When I was talking to the coach, he didn’t say much. We had some misfields, some catches dropped. But everyone knows their role—who has to bowl, who has to field. Everyone gives their best, but sometimes it depends on the day—whether it goes in our favour or not. He just told us to stick to our strengths.
Q: Did you have any specific plans against Australia today?
Not really. I didn’t have any special plan. I just had a basic left-right strategy, but it’s not perfect. Again, my focus is only on bowling to my strength.
Q: Finally, can you share your thoughts on Smriti Mandhana’s batting?
Everyone is crazy about her batting. When Smriti bats, the whole stadium chants her name. She batted really well today—I enjoyed watching it too.
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