The much-anticipated first ODI of the Australia Women’s tour of India 2025 takes place on 14th September at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. This three-match series is a crucial warm-up for both teams ahead of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka later this year. India Women, led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain, will be eager to continue their impressive form after a strong series win against England in England. Australia Women, the current ODI World Cup champions, arrive with a dominant record, boasting 12 consecutive wins and a reputation as the world’s number one ODI side.
On the player front, India will rely heavily on their experienced batting duo of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. Mandhana has been in excellent touch this year, accumulating crucial runs with a commanding presence at the top of the order. Kaur, fresh off a century in India’s recent ODI outing against England, will be pivotal in the middle order alongside Jemimah Rodrigues and emerging talents like Pratika Rawal. The wicketkeeping duties will be handled by Richa Ghosh after the unfortunate injury to Yastika Bhatia, with young Uma Chetry also in the mix for squad depth. For Australia, the return of Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham strengthens their spin attack, while Alyssa Healy leads the side with aggressive batting and dependable keeping. Rising stars such as Georgia Voll and Annabel Sutherland add firepower, making the visitors a formidable side.
The pitch and conditions at New Chandigarh are expected to favor spinners, which could give Australia’s seasoned spin duo an edge on subcontinental wickets. However, India’s attack, featuring experienced bowlers like Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma, will look to exploit home conditions with disciplined bowling. Weather on match day is forecast to be conducive for a full game, making it a perfect cricketing spectacle. The outcome of this first ODI will set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams gear up for the World Cup challenge, making this series a must-watch for cricket fans.
Squads:
India Women
Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Pratika Rawal, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh Thakur, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani
Australia Women
Georgia Voll, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, Charli Knott, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Nicole Faltum, Alana King, Darcie Brown, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, Sophie Molineux
Players to watch out for :
Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues has played 50 ODIs, scoring 1439 runs at an average of 32.7 with a strike rate of 88.17. She has hit 2 centuries and 7 fifties, with a highest score of 123. Apart from batting, she has occasionally bowled right-arm off break, taking 5 wickets. Rodrigues is also a sharp fielder with 18 catches in ODIs. Her consistent performances make her a valuable middle-order batter for India in the 50-over format
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana is one of India’s most prolific ODI batters, having played 105 matches and scored 4,588 runs at an impressive average of 46.34. She has hit 11 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a highest score of 136, combining elegance with consistency. Known for her fluent left-handed batting, Mandhana also maintains a strong strike rate of 87.83 in ODIs. Her outstanding performances have earned her the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award in 2024, reflecting her key role in India’s batting lineup
Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry is one of Australia’s greatest all-rounders in women’s ODIs. She has played 155 ODIs, scoring 4187 runs at an excellent average of 48.68, including 3 centuries and 35 fifties. Her highest ODI score is an unbeaten 112. With the ball, she has taken 166 wickets at an average of 25.37, with best bowling figures of 7/22. Perry’s ability to perform consistently with both bat and ball, alongside her sharp fielding, makes her a vital player for Australia in the 50-over format
Alyssa Healy
Alyssa Healy is a prominent Australian wicketkeeper-batter who has played 115 Women’s ODIs, scoring 3,198 runs at an average of 34.76, with a highest score of 170 and a strike rate of 97.67. She has hit 5 centuries and 18 half-centuries in this format. She is known for her aggressive batting style and record-breaking performances, including her 170 in the 2022 World Cup final, which is the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in Women’s ODIs. In addition to her batting, Healy is an accomplished wicketkeeper, with 80 catches and 35 stumpings in ODIs
Pitch Report:
The pitch at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh is balanced, offering good pace and bounce for batsmen to play aggressive shots. Early assistance is available for fast bowlers due to some grass cover, but as the match progresses, the surface tends to aid spinners with more turn. Batting first is generally considered advantageous here, as the pitch can become more challenging to chase on in later stages due to spin and wear. Overall, it favors stroke play with tactical bowling making the difference
Weather Report:
The weather forecast for Sunday, 14th September 2025, predicts a cloudy day with chances of afternoon rain showers. Conditions around New Chandigarh will be humid with likely interruptions in play due to rain. Teams should be prepared for possible weather delays during the India Women vs Australia Women ODI match. Overall, the day will be cool but potentially wet, impacting match tactics and flow
Fantasy XI:
Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Annabel Sutherland, Charli Knott, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Alyssa Healy
Match Details:
Date: 14th September, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, India
Broadcast: The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website
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