Author: Trisha Ghosal

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…

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…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mullanpur Smriti Mandhana batted as if she had carried her rhythm straight from the first ODI. Sublime in touch, decisive with her footwork, and precise in her shot selection, she seemed to know exactly which bowler to take on and which gap to exploit. Watching her was like watching someone thread a needle with elegance. She reached her 12th century with ease, making 117 off 91 balls with 14 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 128.57. Earlier, Australia captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to field. Both teams made changes. Australia,…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mullanpur Australia showed why they remain the gold standard in women’s cricket with a commanding win in the first ODI at Mullanpur. Sharp fielding, disciplined bowling and a calm chase highlighted their superiority. India, left with more questions than answers, will need a stronger all-round effort to level the series in the second game. India’s batting began brightly last time, with Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal laying the foundation through half-centuries. But the innings lost steam once Mandhana was run out in a mix-up, exposing India’s familiar middle-overs issues. Harleen Deol eventually finished with a fifty,…

Trisha Ghosal in Mullanpur India’s preparation for the second ODI against Australia was anything but straightforward on Monday evening. What began as a routine warm-up quickly turned chaotic as heavy showers lashed the Mullanpur ground — first at the very start of training, and then again midway through the session. Despite the interruptions, the hosts managed to tick off some key boxes, especially in fielding and batting drills. The biggest takeaway was Renuka Singh’s involvement in specialised fielding routines. Alongside Harleen Deol, she spent a prolonged period taking high catches in different parts of the ground, adjusting under the floodlights.…