The Bellerive Oval in Hobart is the setting for a high-stakes second ODI as India looks to keep the three-match series alive against a dominant Australian side. With the multi-format points table currently tied at 4-4, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a challenging total on a surface that shows a hint of live grass. Australia, aiming for a ‘farewell festival’ win for veteran Alyssa Healy, will be looking to their disciplined pace attack to make early inroads and secure the ODI trophy with a game to spare.
Reason why Australian skipper Sophie Molineux is not playing today’s AUS-W vs IND-W 2nd ODI
The biggest news at the toss was the absence of the newly appointed Australian captain. Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series and the upcoming one-off Test at the WACA due to lower back pain. The injury is a massive blow for the hosts, as Molineux had only just taken over the reins. Stand-in skipper Healy, returning to the captaincy for this match, described the news as a ‘bit of a shock’ but emphasized the need for the team to rally together. To balance the XI, Australia have brought in Nicola Carey, whose familiarity with the Hobart conditions is expected to bolster their seam-bowling all-round options in Molineux’s absence.
AUS-W vs IND-W, 2nd ODI: Strategic reshuffle and high stakes in Hobart
Both teams have made significant changes to their playing XIs, reflecting the critical nature of this ‘virtual final.’ India have opted for a bold strategy by resting opener Shafali Verma and lead pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, handing an ODI debut to 20-year-old left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma and bringing in Amanjot Kaur. For Australia, the pressure is on to maintain their 1-0 lead while missing three core stars, as Molineux joins Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth (both out with quad injuries) on the sidelines.
The stakes are historically high: a win for Australia secures the ODI series, while a victory for India would mark their first-ever ODI win at this venue and keep their dreams of a maiden series win on Australian soil alive. With India’s world-champion status from late 2025 providing a psychological edge and Australia’s depth being tested to its limit, the battle at Bellerive Oval is set to be a classic encounter of resilience versus tactical innovation.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
