By Trisha Ghosal in Mullanpur
For 18 years, India waited. On a balmy evening in Mullanpur, that wait ended. A comprehensive 102-run victory over Australia not only levelled the ODI series 1-1 but also handed India one of their most significant wins in the format. Beyond the scoreline, the game offered Harmanpreet Kaur’s side five crucial positives that could prove decisive with the World Cup looming.
Smriti Mandhana’s Commanding Form
Smriti Mandhana carried her rhythm seamlessly from the first ODI into the second. Her 117 off 91 balls wasn’t just about numbers; it was an exhibition of control, precision, and artistry. She threaded gaps with the finesse of a seamstress, punished width, and chose her moments against each bowler. That she notched her 12th ODI century at a strike rate of 128.57 highlighted not just fluency but also intent, the kind of innings that can anchor a World Cup campaign.
Also Read: India conquer Australia at home after 18 years as Mandhana sparkles and bowlers deliver
Seamers Strike Early
The return of Renuka Singh Thakur instantly lifted India’s new-ball attack. Even though her spell ended prematurely with a fitness scare, her early dismissal of Georgia Voll set the tone. Kranti Goud complemented her perfectly by removing Alyssa Healy in the next over. Those twin blows rattled Australia and gave India a cushion rarely afforded against the world champions. With Renuka regaining match sharpness and Kranti showing composure, India’s pace resources suddenly look sharper than they have in months.
Deepti Sharma’s Steady Middle Overs
Without Jemimah Rodrigues, India needed someone to stitch the innings together. Deepti Sharma did exactly that. Her measured knock provided stability in the middle overs, allowing Mandhana’s fireworks to shine brighter and ensuring the team didn’t collapse after the openers. In a line-up often guilty of losing momentum between overs 15 and 35, Deepti’s assurance will be invaluable going forward.
Fielding Energy Makes a Statement
Yes, three catches went down. But for once, India’s fielding didn’t let the side down. Instead, it buzzed with energy, sharp stops, and relentless pressure in the ring kept Australia searching for boundaries. On a slow outfield that turned fours into twos, India squeezed the Aussies out of the contest. Sneh Rana’s run-out typified that intensity, proving this unit can match Australia not just with bat and ball but in the field too.
Collective Bowling Effort
This wasn’t about one bowler running through Australia. Kranti took three, Deepti two, while the rest of the attack chipped in with one apiece. Add to that Rana’s run-out, and it was a performance of collective discipline. Variations, especially the slower balls, worked on a tacky surface, denying Australia any rhythm. The visitors managed just one fifty-run partnership — a rarity against their batting depth. That kind of all-round bowling effort is precisely what India will need to compete consistently at the top level.
India’s win in Mullanpur was more than just breaking an 18-year drought. It was proof that this side can harness individual brilliance and collective discipline in equal measure. With the series now headed for a decider in Delhi, the momentum has shifted and so has India’s belief.
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