Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal in Guwahati The countdown to the ICC Women’s World Cup has begun, with India set to open their campaign against Sri Lanka on September 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. For the host city, this tournament arrives at a delicate time. Guwahati is still reeling from the sudden loss of one of its most beloved cultural icons, singer Zubeen Garg. From the moment we landed in Guwahati on Wednesday, the mood was evident. Billboards, posters and banners across the city bore Garg’s face, his music playing softly in cafes and taxis. There was a palpable sense…

By Trisha Ghosal India’s preparations for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 suffered a major setback on Thursday when fast bowler Arundhati Reddy was wheelchaired off the field during the warm-up game against England in Bengaluru. The incident occurred in Reddy’s follow-through after she had already made an impact with the ball. Having dismissed opener Amy Jones, the pacer looked set to pouch a return catch from Heather Knight. Instead, she landed awkwardly on her left leg and collapsed in visible pain. Medical staff rushed in immediately. After initial attempts to assist her off the field proved unsuccessful, a wheelchair…

By Trisha Ghosal in New Delhi Australia closed out the ODI series in Delhi with a 412-run batting display and a composed defence in a high-scoring decider. Speaking after the match, Beth Mooney reflected on the lessons from the contest, India’s fearless chase, and the bigger picture ahead of the World Cup. On the 412 total and India’s chase “The style of play we came out with today was excellent,” Mooney said. “It was a flat wicket, once you got in you had to go big, and Georgia, Ellyse, and Ash all showed great intent. We probably fell away without…

By Trisha Ghosal in New Delhi After a run-fest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium where Australia’s 412 was nearly matched by India in a 781-run decider, Indian vice captain Smriti Mandhana fronted the media to speak about India’s learnings from the series, the team’s strengths, and the road ahead to the World Cup. On team reliance and match-winners Mandhana dismissed suggestions that India’s batting leans too heavily on her. “Everyone in this squad is a match-winner, not just the eleven but all fifteen,” she said. “In the last 12 months, Pratika, Harleen, Jemimah, Harman—everyone has got a hundred. We’ve crossed…

Trisha Ghosal in Delhi A decider befitting of its name. Under the searing Delhi sun, fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium were treated to a run-fest, a riveting contest on a flat deck where 781 runs were scored. In the end, Beth Mooney’s brilliance carried Australia to their joint-highest total of 412, a mark that proved just out of India’s reach despite Smriti Mandhana’s fireworks. Australia, batting first, played with a no-holds-barred attitude. Alyssa Healy set the tone with 30 off 18 balls before falling to Kranti Goud, her third dismissal off the left-arm quick this series. Georgia Voll, fed…

Trisha Ghosal in Delhi Under the hot Delhi sun, Moons shone the brightest. Beth Mooney, affectionately called Moons by her teammates, played a brilliant innings. From the word go, she made her intentions clear. Off just the third ball she faced, she danced down the track to Deepti Sharma and lofted her over mid-off for four. That was the first ominous sign, and she never looked back. Earlier in the day, Australian captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and chose to bat on a flat Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch. Healy and Georgia Voll came out with a clear plan to…

Trisha Ghosal in New Delhi It’s decider day. The India–Australia ODI series is tied at 1–1 and the last game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is a winner-takes-all scenario. While the contest stands in fine balance, both teams still have issues to iron out before the World Cup. India have three matches (today’s clash plus warm-ups against England and New Zealand) and Australia just two (today, and one against England) before their respective campaigns begin. If Smriti Fails, Then Who? India’s top five have added 414 runs across the first two ODIs. Smriti Mandhana alone has scored 175 of those,…

By Trisha Ghosal in New Delhi The Arun Jaitley Stadium will host the deciding third ODI on Friday, with the women’s series level at 1-1 after India and Australia traded commanding wins in Mullanpur. Both teams know the stakes extend beyond the scoreline, with the World Cup looming and lessons to be taken from every contest. On the eve of the decider, Ashleigh Gardner faced the media and offered candid reflections. “India Outplayed Us in All Facets” Gardner was forthright about Australia’s defeat in the second ODI. “Sometimes it’s not a wake-up call, but it shows the powerhouse that India…

Trisha Ghosal in Delhi Two ODIs gone, one left to decide. The India–Australia women’s series has shifted from Mullanpur to Delhi, where tomorrow’s third and final game will hand one side the bragging rights. Both teams arrive with very different sets of questions, but with the same urgency: win, and take the series. India’s story so far has been written largely by one player. Out of 573 runs scored in the series, Smriti Mandhana has piled up 175 —30.54% of the aggregate. Each time she has batted, India looked capable of stretching towards 320. Each time she departed, the scoring…

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…