IND W vs IRE W: Smriti Mandhana To Lead ODI Series

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IND W vs IRE W: In a significant development ahead of the three-match ODI series against Ireland, Smriti Mandhana has been appointed as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. This series commences on 10 January 2025. All three matches will be played at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot. The team regular skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, has been rested for the series, along with fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur who too has been rested.

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Series Against Ireland Overview

The three-match ODI series forms part of the Future Tour Program (FTP) 2022-25 and is a very important one for both teams. This will be Ireland’s first-ever bilateral series in India, and it will be the first time that the two teams will face each other in a bilateral series since 2006. Ireland, who have yet to win an ODI against India in 12 attempts, will look to make a mark, although the odds are stacked against them. India has an excellent track record, and its last match was a five-run win over Ireland in the recently concluded 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.

All three matches are scheduled to start at 11 AM Indian time in Rajkot. The dates for the games are:
– First ODI: January 10
– Second ODI: January 12
– Third ODI: January 15

Series to Be Led by a New Captain for India

With Harmanpreet Kaur rested, Smriti Mandhana will take over as the captain of the team for the series. She is one of India’s most talented and consistent batters and has been a crucial player in the team’s success in recent years. This would be an opportunity for her to show her leadership skills as the team looks to continue its dominance in ODIs.

Experienced campaigner Deepti Sharma has also been made vice-captain of the side. The all-rounder Deepti is known for steady performances with bat and ball. She will do a lot to support Mandhana’s captaincy.

Rest and Rotation of Key Players

In terms of rotation, India’s regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and ace fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur have been rested for the series. Harmanpreet has been a consistent performer for India and led the side in several series. Renuka has been one of the important fast bowlers in the recent past. The decision to drop these two might be an effort by the team management to space out the player workload and give the players adequate rest before some crucial international assignments.

Players Called Up and Missing

The squad for the series features a few familiar faces, but some notable inclusions as well. Among the returnees to the squad are Sayali Satghare and Raghavi Bisht, who have been called for this series.

Raghavi Bisht was named in India’s T20 squad as part of her debut in late 2024 against the West Indies. Raghavi batted well scoring 5 and 31 runs in the two matches that she played for India. Sayali Satghare had also been a member of the touring party to New Zealand in October but was unable to get an opportunity in the series.

Some big names missing from the list are Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, and Shefali Verma. One would expect their omissions to raise a few eyebrows, more so given past contributions to the Indian women’s cricket team. On the flip side, such absences will give other opportunities for the same players to emerge and shine in international cricket.

Squad for the Series Against Ireland

The following are the players that have been named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against Ireland:

– Smriti Mandhana (c)
– Deepti Sharma (vc)
– Pratika Rawal
– Harleen Deol
– Jemimah Rodrigues
– Uma Chhetri (wk)
– Richa Ghosh (wk)
– Tejal Hasabnis
– Raghavi Bisht
– Minnu Mani
– Priya Mishra
– Tanuja Kanwar
– Titas Sadhu
– Saima Thakor
– Sayali Satghare

Road Ahead for Both Teams

Both these teams consider this series as part of their set calendar. In the case of India, they would look at this series more as a springboard to garner momentum before their really challenging matches; and also help fringe players try out their talents at the international level. India’s key performers like Harmanpreet Kaur and Renuka Singh Thakur being absent here would give their teammates a wonderful opportunity to push in and prove their skills and take up a likely position in their future series.

This series is an important learning experience for Ireland. Being the underdogs, the Irish team will look to break their 12-match losing streak against India and gain valuable exposure in India. The series will help the team understand the high standards of international cricket, which will be beneficial for them in future competitions.

India would look forward to a straight sweep, being one of their finest ODI campaigns, though Ireland would take on the mantle to test up against the upper order for their first series with India, held on home grounds.

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