India Women vs Ireland Women,3rd ODI (ICC Championship Match),Ireland Womens tour of India, 2025,2025-01-15 05:30 GMT

India Women vs Ireland Women 3rd ODI Preview

Match Details

• Date: January 15, 2025
• Time: 05:30 GMT
• Venue: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
• Teams: India Women vs Ireland Women

Team Previews

India Women

India Women, led by Smriti Mandhana, have been dominant in the series, showcasing brilliant performances with both bat and ball. The team's confidence is soaring after setting a record-breaking total of 370 runs in their last match, their highest-ever ODI score. Mandhana expects her players to maintain this momentum and aim for a clean sweep in the series.

Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal have been exceptional, forming a strong partnership. Jemimah Rodrigues, coming off a stunning century, is in excellent form and will be crucial in the middle order alongside Harleen Deol and Tejal Hasabnis. Sayali Satghare and Richa Ghosh add depth to the batting lineup, capable of accelerating in the latter overs.

The Indian bowlers have complemented the batting lineup well. Sayali Satghare and Titas Sadhu have consistently provided early breakthroughs, while Deepti Sharma's spin has troubled the opposition in the middle overs. Saima Thakor, Pratika Rawal, and Priya Mishra bring variety to the attack, making India a well-rounded team.

Ireland Women

Ireland Women, led by Gaby Lewis, have faced an uphill battle against a strong Indian side. Despite a spirited effort in the second game, their bowling attack struggled to contain India's aggressive batters, resulting in a heavy loss. The Irish side will need to regroup and put up a stronger fight in the final match.

Openers Gaby Lewis and Sarah Forbes must find ways to counter India's pacers, who have used the conditions effectively. Coulter Reilly, who played a commendable knock in the last game, will need to anchor the middle order alongside Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany. Contributions from Leah Paul and Arlene Kelly in the final overs will be essential to post or chase a competitive total.

Ireland's bowling has been their Achilles' heel in the series. Ava Canning and Orla Prendergast must deliver early wickets to curb India's explosive start. Freya Sargent and Arlene Kelly, who struggled in the last game, need to step up their game, while Georgina Dempsey and Alana Dalzell will play key supporting roles.

Pitch Report

The Niranjan Shah Stadium is known for its fast and bouncy pitch, making it a dream for batters. With an average first-innings score of 304 in ODIs, you can expect plenty of runs to flow. While fast bowlers might not find much movement early on, spinners are likely to have a good time as the match goes on, taking advantage of any turn and bounce.

Historically, teams batting first have had great success here, so whoever wins the toss will probably choose to bat first to take full advantage of those friendly conditions and aim for a big score.

Key Players to Watch

• Smriti Mandhana: The captain Smriti Mandhana has delivered in this series with her scores of 41 and 73. She is a reliable opener and reads the pitch quickly to stabilize herself.
• Deepti Sharma: Deepti Sharma shone both with the bat and the ball in the 2nd ODI. She scalped a 3-fer for 37 runs and also racked up a solid 39 off 48 with the bat.
• Jemimah Rodrigues: Rodrigues had a rough outing in the series opener against Ireland women but found back her rhythm in the 2nd ODI as she bagged a vital ton for the team.
• Gaby Lewis: While Gaby Lewis had a modest 12 off 19 in the 2nd ODI, her commanding 92 off 129 in the first underscores her ability to anchor the innings and deliver big scores under pressure.
• Coulter Reilly: Coulter Reilly's recent and composed 80 off 113 balls in the previous match against the same opposition showcased her ability to anchor the innings under pressure.

Prediction

India Women are favorites to win the match and complete a clean sweep due to their superior form, batting depth, and consistent performances in the series. The team batting first will likely have the upper hand in this match.