As the focus shifts to the 50-over format, the rivalry between Australia and India reaches a fever pitch. India enter this ODI leg with a significant psychological advantage and a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series points table, having just secured a historic 2-1 T20I series win on Australian soil.
For the hosts, this match marks the beginning of an emotional farewell. Alyssa Healy returns to the side to lead Australia in her final ODI series before retirement, adding a layer of high-stakes sentiment to an already intense battle.
AUS vs IND, Women’s ODI series: Team news
Australia Women
The narrative surrounding the Australian camp is dominated by an emotional transition. Legendary wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy returns to the playing XI and the captaincy for the start of her “swansong” series. After making the shock announcement in January that she will retire from all forms of international cricket following this multi-format series, Healy opted to sit out the preceding T20Is to allow the team to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup under new leadership. Now, she returns to the 50-over format, where she has been most destructive, aiming to overturn India’s 4-2 series lead.
Tactically, Australia welcomes back star leg-spinner Alana King. Having been overlooked for the T20I leg, King’s inclusion is a clear intent to control the middle overs. Her ability to extract bounce and turn, even on a generally true surface like Allan Border Field, will be vital in curbing India’s aggressive stroke-makers. With Sophie Molineux serving as vice-captain and having led the side during the T20Is, the Australian leadership group remains robust. The hosts will rely heavily on Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney to provide the batting stability that was occasionally missing during their 2-1 T20I series loss.
India Women
India enter the ODI leg with immense psychological momentum. As the reigning ODI World Cup champions, having secured their first-ever title in late 2025, they have proved they can dismantle Australia on the biggest stage. Their recent T20I series victory on Australian soil, secured by a dominant performance from Smriti Mandhana, who smashed a match-winning 82 in the decider, has only bolstered their “giant-killer” reputation.
The most significant boost for India is the return of Pratika Rawal. The 25-year-old opener, who averages a staggering 50.45 in ODIs, has finally completed her rehabilitation following a severe ankle injury sustained during the 2025 World Cup group stages. Rawal was a pillar of India’s World Cup campaign, scoring 308 runs including a crucial century against New Zealand. Her return allows India to reunite one of the most feared top-orders in the game alongside Mandhana and Shafali Verma. With Jemimah Rodrigues also in peak form, boasting an average near 50 against Australia, India’s batting lineup looks deep and resilient. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will look to her spin twins, Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma, to mirror the discipline shown in the T20Is and secure a historic bilateral series win on Australian soil.
AUS vs IND, Women’s ODI series schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (Local) | Time (GMT) | Time (IST) |
| Feb 24 | 1st ODI | The Gabba, Brisbane | 1:50 PM | 3:50 AM | 9:20 AM |
| Feb 27 | 2nd ODI | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 2:50 PM | 3:50 AM | 9:20 AM |
| Mar 01 | 3rd ODI | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 2:50 PM | 3:50 AM | 9:20 AM |
Broadcast and Live Streaming details
- Australia: Fox Cricket (Foxtel), Kayo Sports, Channel 7 and 7plus
- India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
- Pakistan: Tapmad
- South Africa: Supersport
- USA and Canada: Sling TV – Willow TV (sign up here), Triller TV
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
