India Women Face Crucial Test in Must-Win Second ODI Against Australia
Harmanpreet Kaur's Team Seeks Redemption after Defeat in First ODI, Challenges Lie Ahead
The second ODI between Australia and India Women is a must-win match that will put Harmanpreet Kaur's team to the test of their moral character on Saturday.
India's first ODI against Australia was outplayed on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium, even though the hosts amassed their highest-ever total of 282/8 thanks to the exploits of Jemimah Rodrigues (82) and Pooja Vastrakar (62 not out).
India used seven different bowlers to defend the total, including Harmanpreet (3-0-32-0), but it was in vain as Australia easily defeated them with over three overs and six wickets remaining.
Not only was India's crushing loss their eighth straight at home, but the way the hosts were defeated would raise some questions in the locker room.
The first over of the match saw Sneh Rana fly to her left to take a diving catch off Renuka Singh, which was followed by a collapse in India's fielding. The Australian duo of Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry amassed 148 runs for the second wicket thanks to a plethora of fielding errors.
Vastrakar in particular, one of India's new ball bowlers, struggled to establish himself and gave up some simple runs.
Similar to her T20I debut, Saika Ishaque (6-0-48-0) struggled to settle into the game, and her team's problems were exacerbated by numerous errors made in the field.
Prior to Rodrigues and Vastrakar's 68-run partnership for the eighth wicket, which saved India, the majority of India's batters were failing to convert their starts.
It will be difficult for India to move past this setback and bounce back in just one day—they have seven matches across all formats in the last 23 days during this intense home campaign.
It's also unclear if vice captain Smriti Mandana, who was unable to play in the first ODI due to illness, will be available for the second game.
But the most difficult task would be to figure out how to stop this formidable Australian batting lineup.
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