Smriti Mandhana-led India Eye maintains dominance in first-ever women’s bilateral series against Ireland

India, coached by Smriti Mandhana, who are riding high after their dominant performance against the West Indies, will face Ireland in the first-ever women’s bilateral series, with the opening ODI scheduled to take place here on Friday. We want to carry on the momentum. India won the T20 series 2-1 and then thrashed West Indies 3-0 in the ODI series. Mandhana has emerged as the top run-scorer in both formats, scoring 148 runs in the ODI series, including two half-centuries, and amassing 193 runs in the T20s with three consecutive fifties.

Notably, she scored five consecutive half-centuries but only missed out in the last ODI, with Mandhana joining regular captain Harmanpreet, who is rested along with fast bowler Renuka Singh.・In Kaul’s absence, he is trying to regain the same form as leading the team.

With Kaul and Renuka out, the responsibility will shift to the remaining batsmen including Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal and Jemima Rodrigues to step up.

Deol was the top scorer in the ODI series with 160 runs, including a brilliant 115 runs, while Rawal and Rodriguez also had solid performances, scoring 134 and 112 runs respectively and 50 runs each in ODIs.

In the bowling department, the absence of Renuka, who was the top wicket-taker with 10 wickets in the ODI series against West Indies, will be felt.

The onus will now be on newcomers Titus Sadhu and Saima Thakor to emerge.

The 20-year-old Sadhu, who has three wickets in ODIs and 13 in T20Is, has impressed with his pace and swing in domestic and recent international cricket and is expected to make an early breakthrough. Saima, 28, will also be hoping to continue her good form, having picked up seven wickets in eight ODIs so far.

Vice-captain and off-spinner Deepti Sharma will be crucial, especially after bowling the best of her career with six for 31 in the third ODI against West Indies. Priya Mishra and Tanuja Kanwar play an important role in supporting Deepti.

All-rounders Raghvi Bist and Saali Satgare, who are in the squad for this series, will also be in the spotlight. Vist is a player who has high scoring ability and is reliable as a fielder. She is hoping to get her chance after making her debut in the WI T20 series.

Ireland, led by Gabby Lewis, will face a tough challenge against India, with all-rounder Orla Prendergast in their place.

The Irish team has not beaten India in the previous 12 ODIs, with India winning by a narrow five-run margin in the last encounter at the 2023 T20 World Cup.

However, the Irish team has some quality all-rounders and Prendergast is likely to be a key player. She has gained experience in Australia and the WBBL and will be looking to bring that to the fore when Ireland take on a formidable India side at home.

squad:

India: Smriti Mandhana (C), Deepti Sharma (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemima Rodriguez, Uma Chhetri (W), Richa Ghosh (W), Tejal Hasabnis, Raghuvi Bist, Minnu – Mani, Priya Mishra, Tanuja Kanwar, Titus Sadhu, Saima Thakor, Saari Satgare.

Ireland: Gabby Lewis (C), Eva Canning, Christina Coulter Riley, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Arlene Kelly, Joanna Loughran, Amy Maguire, Leah Paul, Orla – Prendergast, Una Raymond-Hoey, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stokel.