Women's Cricket: India Women Clinch Historic Series Win Over Australia
Smriti Mandhana's brilliance with the bat and Deepti Sharma's all-round display helped India women beat Australia 2-1 in a historic ODI series on Australian soil.
A Series for the History Books
India women have beaten Australia women in Australia. Let that sink in. The Southern Stars — the most dominant team in women's cricket history — have been defeated in a bilateral ODI series on home soil by a young, fearless Indian side that refused to be overawed by reputation or location.
The 2-1 series victory is India women's finest overseas achievement and signals a genuine shift in the balance of power in women's cricket.
Mandhana: The Series Anchor
Smriti Mandhana was the standout performer across all three matches. Her series tally of 247 runs at an average of 82.33 tells only part of the story. It was the manner of her batting — elegant, aggressive, utterly in control — that made Australia's bowlers look ordinary.
Her 115 in the series decider at Sydney was one of the finest innings played by any batter, male or female, in 2024. When Mandhana is in this kind of form, India are nearly unbeatable.
Deepti's All-Round Brilliance
Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Series for her contribution in both departments. Her 6 wickets with off-spin and 143 runs with the bat were crucial in tilting the series India's way. She has developed into one of the finest all-rounders in women's cricket globally.
What This Means
India women's rise under captain Harmanpreet Kaur reflects years of investment in women's cricket — better IPL Women's competition, better support staff and a new generation of fearless players. The world of women's cricket has a new powerhouse.