The Indian women’s cricket team carved a remarkable chapter in the annals of the sport with a resounding win in the one-off Test match against the dominant Australian side, marking a red-letter day at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, December 24. Under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian eves earned an 8-wicket victory, recording their initial triumph over the world’s number one-ranked Australian team in the format.
The match was of particular significance as it was the inaugural captaincy venture for the Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy, who took the reins following the legacy of the esteemed Meg Lanning. The juggernaut of Australian women’s cricket, which had recently been stalled by England in the 2023 Ashes, faced a significant roadblock against the Indian women, hinting at the emergence of vulnerabilities within their seemingly impervious fortress.
The Indian team’s historic triumph was set in motion by a dominant batting display that amassed a substantial total of 406 runs. This response effectively dwarfed Australia’s first innings score of 219 runs, granting India a commanding lead. Despite a valiant half-century from Australia’s Tahlia McGrath that provided a glimpse of balance in the second innings, Kaur’s crucial two-wicket haul in the penultimate session of the third day dashed any lingering hopes of an Australian comeback.
Alyssa Healy, who grappled with the challenge of making a significant impact with the bat, gracefully acknowledged the supremacy of their opponents. In the aftermath of the game, the Australian skipper pinpointed the lack of a substantive score on the first day as the critical juncture that ultimately set the tone for the match’s outcome. Healy broached the idea that surmounting a three hundred run-total might have altered the complexion of the game.
Reflecting on the experience, Healy stated, “What an experience to come and play Test cricket. Not easy and we found out. Two or three more Tests could have been interesting. Except for the first day, we showed a lot of fight. It’s the first time we are playing red-ball cricket here, and we are learning on our feet. The girls have adjusted and performed well. Full credit to the Indian team, they just put too many runs on us. If we would have batted the first full day, we could have been in the game.”
The Australian captain further dissected the match, insinuating that the initial failure to capitalize on winning the toss and post a formidable total, coupled with a leak of too many runs the subsequent afternoon, were decisive missteps. “Around 300 would have been the ideal,” she mused, emphasizing the holistic execution required across all four days of Test cricket. Nonetheless, she expressed optimism in taking confidence from the conditions at Wankhede. The chance to play both a practice match and this Test, she affirmed, has been instrumental in acclimating to the unique conditions on offer.
As the dust settles on this significant milestone, both teams have begun shifting their focus to limited-overs cricket. A three-match ODI series is poised to commence on December 28 at the same venue in Mumbai, followed by a trio of T20 Internationals slated to be played at the DY Patil Stadium starting January 5.
This historic win for the Indian women will be remembered as a watershed moment, and it sets the stage for an enthralling white-ball series that cricket aficionados across the globe will keep a close watch on. The recent performances have not only infused new hope and belief into the Indian camp but also signaled to the world that the stronghold Australia has enjoyed over the women’s game, while still formidable, may no longer be unassailable.
