History beckons the Indian women’s cricket team as they prepare to take on Australia in the third and final ODI at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday. The series is currently locked at 1-1, and a victory would mark India's first-ever bilateral ODI series win against Australia, a team that has maintained an unbeaten record against them in bilateral series dating back to 1984.
The Indian team heads into the decider after a historic 102-run victory in the second ODI, which was Australia's heaviest defeat in the format. The win also ended Australia’s 13-match winning streak. However, the Indian team knows that this will be a tough challenge. Australia, led by captain Alyssa Healy, will be determined to bounce back and prove that their last loss was an aberration.
A major key to India's recent success has been the form of opener Smriti Mandhana. After a half-century in the first match, Mandhana went on to score her 12th ODI century in the second game, a record-breaking 117 off just 91 balls. Her performance has been crucial, but the team will be looking for more support from the middle and lower order, particularly from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has yet to find her rhythm in the series.
The Indian bowlers, who complemented the batters' efforts in the second ODI, will be crucial in the decider. The return of pacer Renuka Singh Thakur and the impressive performance of young seamer Kranti Goud provided the team with an early advantage. The team’s fielding, however, remains a concern, with as many as ten catches dropped in the first two matches.
The Indian team will wear pink jerseys for the match to raise awareness for breast cancer. This initiative is a first for an Indian cricket team and mirrors the 'Pink Test' held in Australia to support the McGrath Foundation. With the Women's World Cup starting on September 30, a series win would be the perfect morale booster for India.