Mullanpur : India suffered a blow ahead of the ODI World Cup as Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series against Australia due to viral fever, with 28-year-old Tejal Hasabnis named as her replacement. The series has delivered high drama at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur.
Rodrigues had scored just 18 in the opener, missing the rest of the series under medical care. Hasabnis joins a reinforced ODI squad that includes Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-caption), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Uma Chetry (WK), and the new arrival herself, Hasabnis. Hasabnis, who averages 46.66 from six ODIs and scored a top-notch 53 not out against Ireland this year, now steps into a pivotal role just two weeks out from the World Cup.
Match Highlights:
In the second ODI at Mullanpur, Australia won a nail-biter by three runs, taking a 2–0 series lead. India, put in to bat, racked up a fighting 292 in 49.5 overs. The star was Smriti Mandhana who unleashed a brilliant 117, with able support from Deepti Sharma (40) and Richa Ghosh, but the rest of the lineup was tested by the Aussie attack led by Darcie Brown (3/42) and Ashleigh Gardner (2/39).
For Australia, Alyssa Healy (captain/wicketkeeper) marshalled her side astutely, with Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland forming the backbone of the visiting batting effort.
Key Moments & Quotes:
Mandhana, recently crowned ICC ODI Batter No. 1, delighted the home crowd but rued missed chances: “We fought hard, and the support at Mullanpur was phenomenal. But Australia held their nerve at the end.”.
Sutherland struck at crucial junctures, picking up key wickets. India’s lower order faltered just as victory seemed possible.
Updated Squad and Next Steps:
With Hasabnis joining the main squad and Rodrigues’s recovery being monitored, the team faces both selection and form challenges ahead of the World Cup starting Sept. 30 in Indore. India will look to restore parity in the final ODI at Mullanpur—hoping their fresh faces and Mandhana’s form deliver under pressure.
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