In a moment that encapsulated the fine margins of Test cricket, fans flooded with memes and trolling on social media after the Indian women’s cricket team squandered a crucial DRS review in the 6th over of their first innings during the ongoing pink-ball Test at W.A.C.A., Perth.
Debutant pacer Kranti Gaud, along with the slip cordon, including the wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh, thought she had Ellyse Perry nicked off, but replays revealed a glaring gap between bat and ball, costing India one of their three reviews early on. Much like Australia, who also burned two of their three reviews prematurely, India now operates with just one left, amplifying the pressure in this high-stakes swansong series for Australian skipper Alyssa Healy.
The multi-format series, running from February 15 to March 9, 2026, has been a rollercoaster. India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, started strong in the T20Is: winning the 1st by 21 runs (DLS method), losing the 2nd by 19 runs, and clinching the 3rd by 17 runs to seal a 2-1 series triumph, after 10 years down under. But Australia hit back hard in the ODIs, whitewashing India with victories by 6 wickets, 5 wickets, and a massive 185 runs. The overall scoreline stands at 8-4 in Australia’s favour, making this one-off pink-ball Test, worth four points, a golden chance for India to level it with a win.
Alyssa Healy, in her 299th and final international appearance after announcing her retirement from all formats ahead of the home series, won the toss and elected to field first. India crumbled to 198 all out in 62.4 overs, with Jemimah Rodrigues top-scoring on 52 off 84 balls. Shafali Verma (35 off 48), debutant Kashvee Gautam (34* off 54), and skipper Kaur (19 off 15) offered resistance, but Australia’s bowlers dominated: Annabel Sutherland (17-5-46-4), debutant Lucy Hamilton (11-3-31-3), and Darcie Brown (12.4-0-41-2).
Australia stuttered in reply, reaching 96/3 in 27 overs at stumps on Day 1, trailing by 102 runs. Ellyse Perry is playing as a pure batter at number 3, steadied the ship with 43* off 62 balls, partnering an unbeaten 38-run stand for the 4th wicket with Sutherland (20* off 29). India’s debut-heavy attack shone: Pratika Rawal, Kashvee Gautam, Sayali Satghare, and Kranti Gaud were the four newcomers, with Satghare (8-1-24-2), Gaud (11-2-28-1), and Gautam (7-1-29-0) impressing. Hamilton was Australia’s lone debutant.
Day 1 delivered fireworks: 294 runs scored, 13 wickets tumbling, 12 to pacers, under the pink ball’s glare. That DRS mishap, though, stole the spotlight online. Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) and other social media handles. The trolling highlighted not just the error, Perry’s steady knock now looms large, but the passion of women’s cricket supporters, turning a split-second decision into prime banter fodder.
As Day 2 dawns, India eyes remaining Australian scalps to keep visitors in the contest. Can the debutants spark a collapse and spoil Healy’s farewell with a series-levelling upset? Perth’s pink hues promise more twists.
https://x.com/MSDianMrigu/status/2030214075565949079
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.