Harmanpreet Kaur continued her remarkable run at the toss, making it five consecutive ODI wins, and reassured fans about her fitness after concerns over a left knee issue in the previous game. “I’m fine now… I just got a niggle,” she clarified, confirming she is ready to contribute fully.
Australia, meanwhile, replaced the injured Sophie Molineux with Nicola Carey. Molineux has been sidelined with a lower back problem, and Cricket Australia confirmed she will be assessed ahead of the upcoming West Indies tour, where she is expected to assume full-time captaincy duties. Reflecting on conditions, Alyssa Healy noted that bowling first on a pitch with some live grass could offer an early advantage.
Playing XIs
India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, N Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, and Vaishnavi Sharma
Australia: Alyssa Healy (captain), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Alana King, Megan Schutt, and Darcie Brown
