The Indian women’s cricket team cruised to a commanding 6-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the first ODI at Rajkot, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The chase of 239 was spearheaded by opener Pratika Rawal’s composed 89 and Tejal Hasabnis’ unbeaten 53, sealing the win in just 34.3 overs.

Ireland’s valiant effort

Opting to bat first, Ireland had a shaky start as Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare dismantled their top order, reducing them to 56/4 in the powerplay. Captain Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul then orchestrated a crucial 117-run partnership, stabilizing the innings. Lewis played a captain’s knock of 92, narrowly missing out on a century, while Paul contributed a gritty 59.

Late cameos by Arlene Kelly and Georgina Dempsey lifted Ireland to a competitive total of 238/7. Priya Mishra impressed with figures of 2/56, keeping the visitors in check during the death overs.

India’s emphatic chase

India’s reply began on a high note with stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana smashing a brisk 41 off 29 balls. During her explosive innings, Mandhana achieved a milestone, becoming the fastest Indian women’s cricketer to reach 4000 ODI runs.

After Mandhana’s dismissal, opener Pratika Rawal and middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis took control. Rawal showcased her class with a 96-ball 89, striking 10 boundaries before being dismissed while attempting an ambitious lofted shot. Tejal Hasabnis, on the other hand, played a steady hand, remaining unbeaten on 53 to anchor the chase after Rawal’s departure.

Despite Aimee Maguire’s three-wicket haul, Ireland’s bowlers failed to trouble the Indian batters, who capitalized on loose deliveries and fielding lapses to maintain a dominant scoring rate.

Series outlook

The victory underlines India’s all-around strength, with both batters and bowlers stepping up to the occasion. Ireland, however, will aim to regroup and fight back in the second ODI to keep the series alive.

India Women, led by Smriti Mandhana, kicked off their three-match ODI series against Ireland Women on Friday at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Riding on their recent dominance against the West Indies, India aimed to maintain their winning streak, while Ireland looked to make a mark with their young and dynamic squad.

Ireland’s batting highlights

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Ireland Women put up a competitive total of 238/7 in 50 overs. Captain Gaby Lewis led from the front, scoring a remarkable 92 runs, anchoring Ireland’s innings with skill and determination. The Indian bowlers, particularly Priya Mishra, made significant breakthroughs, with Mishra picking up two key wickets.

India’s recent momentum

India entered the series high on confidence following their clean sweep of the West Indies in the ODI series (3-0) and a 2-1 victory in the T20 series. Skipper Smriti Mandhana has been in stellar form, emerging as the top scorer in both formats. Her consistency with the bat, including two half-centuries in the ODI series and three successive fifties in the T20s, has been a key factor in India’s success.

Key players to watch

For Ireland, all-rounder Orla Prendergast has been a player to watch, bringing her experience from the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Her skills with both bat and ball make her a critical player in Ireland’s lineup.

India’s lineup boasts a mix of experience and youth, with players like Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues providing stability in the middle order, while Deepti Sharma continues to be a reliable all-rounder.

Squads

India Women Playing XI:
Smriti Mandhana (c), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Tejal Hasabnis, Richa Ghosh (w), Deepti Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu

Ireland Women Playing XI:
Sarah Forbes, Gaby Lewis (c), Una Raymond-Hoey, Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Coulter Reilly (w), Arlene Kelly, Georgina Dempsey, Freya Sargent, Aimee Maguire

Senior Indian batter Rohit Sharma dismissed retirement rumors on Saturday, stating he is not going anywhere, and explaining that his recent poor form led him to “stand down” from the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia.

Struggling with consistency, Rohit decided to rest for the Sydney match and passed the leadership responsibilities to Jasprit Bumrah, which sparked speculation about his cricketing future. “I have not retired. I stood down, and that’s how I see it. The conversation I had with the coach and the selectors was straightforward. My runs haven’t been coming, and with the importance of this match, we need players who are in form,” Rohit shared with Star Sports.

He added, “Our batting lineup has been struggling, and we can’t afford to have too many players out of form. This was a key consideration for me. I’m not going anywhere.” The 37-year-old indicated that the team management and selectors supported his decision.

“I wanted to express my thoughts to the coach and selectors, and they backed my choice. They acknowledged that I’ve been playing for many years and understand my situation,” he noted. “Making this decision was challenging, but when I laid everything out clearly, it seemed the right thing to do. I won’t dwell on it too much.”

In Rohit’s absence, Shubman Gill was added to the Indian XI for the critical fifth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India currently trailing 1-2 in the series. Rohit struggled in Test cricket during 2024, managing only 619 runs in 26 innings over 14 matches, with a low average of 24.76. Before stepping down, he had scored just 31 runs in five innings in this series after rejoining the team following the Perth Test.

Rohit’s proactive decision raised speculations that he might consider retiring from Test cricket after this series. However, he clarified, “This is not a retirement decision. I am not leaving the game; there’s no such choice. I’m sidelined right now because my bat isn’t performing. But that doesn’t guarantee it won’t work again in two months or six months.”

He expressed hope for a revival of his form soon, stating, “In cricket, everything can change in an instant or over time. I have faith that things will improve. However, I also need to be realistic. Ultimately, those outside the game don’t dictate when I should play or when I should leave.”

When asked if his decision followed the Melbourne Test defeat, Rohit explained, “I made this decision after arriving in Sydney. With only two days between matches, one of which was New Year’s Eve, I didn’t want to discuss it then. But I was aware that my attempts weren’t yielding results, and I needed to accept that stepping aside was necessary.”

He emphasized the importance of focusing on the immediate future: “When I captain, I prioritize the here and now rather than what may happen in five or six months. Our focus was on winning these five matches to retain the trophy. Decisions like this are made with the team’s best interests in mind.”

Rohit also commended Bumrah for his leadership, stating, “Bumrah sets high standards with his bowling; he’s truly exceptional. Since I saw him for the first time in 2013, he’s consistently improved and strengthened his game.”