The highest point of India Women’s inaugural ‘home season’ of Test cricket in 28 years proved to be a fitting conclusion as they achieved a momentous victory over the esteemed Australia in a singular Test match held in Mumbai on December 24th. This historic triumph marked a significant milestone in Indian women’s cricket, showcasing their ruthless mode and prowess on home soil after nearly three decades.
On the last day, Team India brought their A-game with both the ball and bat to foil a spirited Australian comeback. They kicked off the day by triggering a collapse in the visitors’ lineup, grabbing the remaining five wickets for a mere 28 runs. Later, they effortlessly chased down the modest target of 75, sealing the deal with an eight-wicket victory – talk about a stellar performance!
The heartwarming scene of Smriti Mandhana (38 not out) and Jemimah Rodrigues (12 not out) sharing a warm embrace perfectly captured the joy of conquering a world-dominating opponent. It instantly took us back to 2008 in Australia when MS Dhoni’s squad secured a victory and made a powerful statement by refraining from overly enthusiastic celebrations.
In a delightful departure from the usual, the Indian team, playing more than one Test at home for the first time since 1995, didn’t miss a beat. Every moment on the field showcased their flawless performance and teamwork. Cheers to a memorable home season!
India Women remained true to their commitment to play ‘positive cricket,’ navigating through various challenges and largely dictating terms against formidable opponents from Australia and England.
Surprisingly, there was no discernible difference in Team India’s clinical performance in the two home Tests, which took place on distinct surfaces at the Wankhede Stadium and the DY Patil Stadium against England. This was a remarkable achievement considering it was their first time playing at home in nearly a decade.
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In a historic feat, India not only secured the most significant victory by runs against England but also marked their first-ever triumph over Australia in 11 Tests. This accomplishment has significantly tilted the balance in favor of ‘matches won’ compared to ‘matches lost’ in their record books. Talk about a winning streak!
After 40 Tests, India has notched up seven wins and faced six defeats, with the remaining 27 matches ending in draws.
The impressive performance by Team India calls for the attention of cricket custodians to ponder over hosting more ‘home’ Tests in the future, as such opportunities have been few and far between.
In the recent victory over England, we witnessed the emergence of new Test stars in the form of Jemimah Rodrigues, Shubha Satheesh, and Renuka Singh Thakur. The match against Australia showcased the debut brilliance of 20-year-old Richa Ghosh, who made a striking entrance with a score of 52.
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On the fourth day morning, the Indian spinners took center stage, with the trio of Sneh Rana (5-2-9-2), Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1.4-1-0-2), and Deepti Sharma (3-2-5-0) joining forces to wreak havoc on the Australian resistance.
Australia, eager to build on their slender lead of 46 runs, suffered a spectacular collapse, losing five wickets in the first 45 minutes of the day and ultimately conceding the game to India. A remarkable testament to the dominance of the Indian spin trio!
Pooja Vastrakar initiated the breakthrough by dismissing Ashleigh Gardner for seven, catching her in front of the wickets. Sneh Rana further tilted the game in India’s favor with two crucial strikes, removing Annabel Sutherland (27) and Alana King (0).
Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who had a stroke of bad luck on the third day despite creating breakthrough opportunities, finally secured her first wicket in the innings by cleaning up Kim Garth (4).
Gayakwad continued her impressive spell by bewildering Jess Jonassen (9) with a sharply turning delivery, crashing into middle and leg. The last recognized Australian batter nearly toppled over on her front foot.
Australia was eventually bundled out for 261 in their second innings after posting a moderate 219 in their first attempt, having chosen to bat.
India once again displayed supremacy with the bat, amassing a total of 406 in their first innings, marking their highest ever against Australia in Tests.
The innings started with Shafali Verma cracking the first ball for four, but Garth produced an excellent delivery, finding an outside edge off her bat. Skipper Alyssa Healy made the catch, securing the first breakthrough of the innings.
Beth Mooney’s dropped catch off Gardner granted Richa Ghosh (13) an early reprieve when she had yet to open her account. Ghosh went on to add 51 for the second wicket with Mandhana (38 not out off 61 balls, 6x4s) after Shafali Verma (4) fell in the first over. Rodrigues and Mandhana then successfully completed the task.