Following their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup triumph, the New Zealand women’s team embarked on an ODI tour of India. But despite taking the battle down to the wire, the visitors fell short as India secured the series 2-1, winning the decider in Ahmedabad.
After struggling with scores of 5 and 0 in the first two ODIs, Smriti Mandhana rediscovered her touch when it mattered most, smashing a sublime century, 100 off 122 balls—her third in ODIs this year. Chasing 233 with composure and aggression, India chased down the target with 34 balls to spare, putting on a clinical display for the home crowd. Mandhana was well-supported by Yastika Bhatia’s quick 35 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s resilient, unbeaten 59.
Reflecting on her innings, Mandhana said, “Yasti (Yastika Bhatia) really took off that pressure initially from me and got a few boundaries, and then Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur)—it’s always fun to bat together. Harman kept telling me to do it for the team… I think the partnerships were really crucial and good to get the win.”
The series also saw a new generation of players—Saima Thakor, Tejal Hasabnis, and Priya Mishra—make their debut and leave their mark. Saima Thakor claimed four wickets across the series, removing stalwarts like Suzie Bates and Brooke Halliday with sharp, precise deliveries.
Meanwhile, Tejal Hasabnis stabilized India in a challenging moment in the first match, combining with Jemimah Rodrigues for a vital 61-run partnership when the team was struggling at 91/4. Priya Mishra, after securing her maiden wicket in the second ODI, thanks to a stunning Radha Yadav catch, delivered an even more impressive performance in the decider, claiming the prized wickets of Sophie Devine and Georgia Plimmer.
Commenting on the youngsters’ performances, Mandhana praised their maturity and poise: “The debutants, I think they were really, really amazing. Just to come into international cricket and to do what they did with that much of clarity, I think it was just brilliant to watch. So I’m sure that the experience of being around the WPL (Women’s Premier League) has helped them.”
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur missed the first game due to an injury, but her return in the second ODI provided a spark, even though India fell short in that match by 76 runs. Her unbeaten 59 in the decider formed the backbone of a 117-run partnership with Mandhana, pushing India toward a confident finish.
Speaking after the series victory, Kaur expressed her satisfaction with the team’s perseverance: “Pleased with the result. As I said in the morning, we discussed a lot of things. Happy we executed them today. Whenever we are playing, we want to give 100%. Sometimes, it doesn’t go your way. You have to think about what is your job, role. Even though we lost badly… we were confident we could pull it off today.”
She also lauded Mandhana’s determination: “I should give credit to Smriti. She was struggling but she managed to score well. It was important as we wanted to win the series at any cost.”
With momentum on their side, India now turns its attention to an upcoming challenge in December—a three-match ODI series against Australia as part of the ICC Women’s Championship, taking place from December 5th to 11th in Brisbane and Perth.
(Quotes sourced from BCCI TV)
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