India Women delivered a strong performance to defeat Australia Women by 17 runs and clinch the three-match T20I series 2-1. The team showed great control with both bat and ball to finish the series on a winning note in Australia.
The series decider was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Adelaide Oval. India, after winning the toss, chose to bat first and posted a competitive total of 176/6 in 20 overs. Australia managed 159/9 in reply, falling short despite a fighting effort.
Mandhana and Rodrigues Build the Winning Total
India’s innings was built around a strong partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, who steadied the team after an early wicket.
India Women – 176/6 (20 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 82 | 55 | 149.09 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 59 | 46 | 128.26 |
| Richa Ghosh | 18 | 7 | 257.14 |
The highlight of the innings was the 121-run partnership between Mandhana and Rodrigues for the second wicket. Mandhana played the attacking role with 8 fours and 3 sixes, while Rodrigues provided stability.
At the end, Richa Ghosh’s quick 18 off 7 balls helped India push the total close to 180, which proved crucial.
Bowlers Finish the Job Under Pressure
Australia’s chase started aggressively but India struck at regular intervals to stay in control.
Australia Women – 159/9 (20 overs)
| Top Performers (Australia) | Runs |
|---|---|
| Ashleigh Gardner | 57 (45) |
| Phoebe Litchfield | 26 (17) |
Gardner fought hard, but wickets kept falling at the other end. India’s bowlers handled the pressure well in the middle and death overs.
Best Bowling (India)
- Shreyanka Patil: 3/22 (4 overs)
- Shree Charani: 3/32 (4 overs)
- Arundhati Reddy: 2/35
- Renuka Singh: 1 wicket
A key turning point came when Jemimah Rodrigues took a superb diving catch to dismiss Gardner, ending Australia’s main hope in the chase.
Series Summary: India Win 2-1
| Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Sydney | India won (DLS) |
| 2nd T20I | Canberra | Australia won by 19 runs |
| 3rd T20I | Adelaide | India won by 17 runs |
This victory gave India an important overseas series win against a strong Australian side.
Winning a T20I series in Australia is a big achievement for India Women. The team showed:
- Strong top-order batting
- Good partnerships under pressure
- Young bowlers delivering in key moments
- Better fielding and match awareness
Smriti Mandhana’s 82 was one of her best performances against Australia, while Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani impressed with match-winning spells.
India will now carry this confidence into the ODI series starting February 24 at Brisbane, followed by a one-off Test in March.
India’s 2-1 series win was a complete team effort. From Mandhana’s leadership with the bat to disciplined bowling at the death, the team showed maturity and confidence — a strong sign ahead of the upcoming matches on the Australia tour.
