Australia Women vs India Women: A Contrast in Performance

Before the Event

In the lead-up to the one-off Test between Australia Women and India Women scheduled for March 6, 2026, Australia had already established dominance in the ODI series. Australia Women delivered a dominant batting performance in the third ODI against India, scoring a total of 409 runs. Alyssa Healy was a standout performer, contributing 158 runs to the team’s total.

What Changed

The third ODI concluded with Australia defeating India by 185 runs, marking a clean sweep for Australia in the three-match ODI series. This series resulted in significant shifts in player rankings. Smriti Mandhana climbed to the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings with 790 rating points, while Alana King became the No.1 bowler with 775 rating points. In contrast, Deepti Sharma is the only Indian bowler in the top 10, ranked 10th, and Harmanpreet Kaur holds the 9th position among batters.

Consequences

As a result of the ODI series, Australia has made strategic selections for the upcoming Test, including uncapped players Rachel Trenaman and Maitlan Brown. However, the team will be without Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux, who have been ruled out due to injury and back problems, respectively. Meanwhile, India’s performance has raised concerns, as they lost all three ODIs against Australia, highlighting the need for improvement ahead of the Test match.

Analysis

The contrasting performances of both teams in the ODI series underscore the challenges India faces as they prepare for the Test. Australia’s comprehensive victory not only reflects their current form but also sets a high standard for India to meet. The upcoming Test at Perth’s WACA Ground will be crucial for India to regain momentum and confidence in their squad.