India Eye-led Smriti Mandhana continues to dominate in first-ever women’s bilateral series against Ireland

Building on a dominant performance against the West Indies, Smriti Mandhana’s India will be looking to continue their winning momentum when they take on Ireland in the first-ever women’s bilateral series, with the first ODI scheduled for Friday. India beat West Indies 3-0 in the ODI series after winning the T20 series 2-1. Mandhana was the leading run-scorer in both formats, scoring 148 runs in the ODI series, including two half-centuries, and scoring 193 runs in T20s, three fifties in a row.

Notably, she scored five consecutive half-centuries, missing only the final ODI, and Mandhana will be looking to recapture the same form as she leads the team in the absence of regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been rested along with fast bowler Renuka Singh.

With Kaur and Renuka missing, the onus shifts to the rest of the players including Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal and Jemima Rodrigues to step up.

Deol was the top run-scorer of the ODI series with 160 runs, including a brilliant 115, while Rawal and Rodriguez also performed well with scores of 134 and 112 respectively, fifty each in the ODIs.

In the bowling department, Renuka’s absence will be felt as she was the leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets in the ODI series against West Indies.

Now the onus will be on newcomers Titas Sadhu and Saima Thakor to make their mark.

The 20-year-old Sadhu, who has three wickets in ODIs and 13 wickets in T20Is, is expected to provide early breakthroughs by impressing with her pace and swing in domestic and recent international cricket. The 28-year-old Saima will also look to continue her good form after taking seven wickets in eight ODIs so far.

Vice-captain and spinner Deepti Sharma will be crucial, especially after her career-best bowling performance of 6 for 31 in the third ODI against the West Indies. Priya Mishra and Tanuja Kanwar will play key roles supporting Deepti.

Eyes will also be on all-rounders Raghvi Bistu and Sayali Satgar, who have been included in the squad for this series. Beast has the ability to score quickly and is also a reliable fielder. She will look to capitalize on this opportunity after making her debut in the WI T20 series.

Ireland, led by Gabi Lewis and her deputy all-rounder Orla Prendergast, face a tough fight against India.

The Irish team have never beaten India in the 12 ODI matches they have played and India won their last meeting at the 2023 T20 World Cup by a narrow margin of five runs.

However, the Irish team boasts some quality all-rounders and Prendergast is likely to be a key player. Having gained experience in Australia and the WBBL, she will look to bring it to the fore when Ireland take on a formidable India at home.

Squads:

India: Smriti Mandhana (C), Deepti Sharma (VK), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemima Rodrigues, Uma Chhetri (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Raghvi Bist, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Tanuja Kanwer, Titas Sadhu, Saima Thakor, Sayali Satgare.

Ireland: Gabi Lewis (centre), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Arlene Kelly, Joanna Loughran, Aimee Maguire, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Una Raymond-Howie, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stockell.