The 27-year-old all-rounder from Telangana, Hyderabad, Arundhati Reddy had to wait a really long time for her debut cap in the ODI format. She made her ODI debut on 19th June 2024 against South Africa in the 2nd ODI at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, after having made her international debut in the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka at the FTZ Sports Complex (Board of Investment), Katunayake on 19th September 2018.
Arundhati has been traveling with the Indian team on multiple occasions, but unfortunately not getting that elusive opportunity in previous instances. She is also a part of India’s squad in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Australia down under. The visitors, India conceded the ODI series courtesy of comprehensive defeats in the first couple of matches of the series at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane.
However, she had to wait for her opportunity in the series and she was finally rewarded with one in the 3rd and the final ODI of the series at the W.A.C.A, Perth on 11th December 2024 (Wednesday). She wasted absolutely no time in not only justifying her inclusion but also putting her hat into the ring for being a regular member of the ODI set-up.
Arundhati ripped through the Australian top-order, reducing them to 78/4 in the 17th over of the innings. She kept going at one end for 7-8 overs at a stretch in her opening burst, pushing the home side on the backfoot. Her potentially match-defining spell only had a couple of boundaries conceded, with as many as 41 dot balls. She eventually returned with her career-best figures (10-2-26-4) in the ODI format, comfortably surpassing her previous best (10-0-36-2) against South Africa on 23rd June 2024 in the home series, earlier this year.
Her spell scripted her name into the record books as she now holds the record for having the best bowling figures (10-2-26-4) for India against Australia in Australia. The record was previously held by Nooshin Al Khadeer (10-0-41-4) that came in the 2nd ODI at St Peters College, Adelaide on 26th February 2006. Notably, Arundhati’s returns are the 2nd best for India vs Australia and the 3rd best for any visiting team against Australia, after Katrina Keenan from New Zealand (9-4-11-4), and Helen Davies from South Africa (4-0-23-4).
It was also a maiden four-wicket haul for Arundhati Reddy, she now has 8 wickets at an average of 24.62 and an impressive economy of 4.47 in five innings with the ball for her side in the ODI format so far.
Australia eventually posted a massive total of 298/6 in their quota of 50 overs in the 3rd and the final ODI of the series.
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