Final WODI showdown: Can India seek redemption after two blows?

After being thoroughly outplayed in the first two matches , India face a stern test of character when they take on a confident Australia in the third and final women’s ODI on Sunday. With the series already decided, the visitors will be desperate to salvage pride and prevent another clean sweep.

Despite coming into the ODI leg with momentum from a 2-1 T20I series win, India have struggled to match Australia’s consistency in the 50 over format . In the opening game, they were reduced to three wickets inside the powerplay and never truly recovered , folding for 214. The second ODI showed brief promise with a 78 run opening stand, but a dramatic collapse in the middle overs saw them lose five wickets for just 52 runs, eventually finishing on 251 for nine. Both totals proved insufficient as Australia chased comfortably.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has led from the front with two half centuries, while Smriti Mandhana contributed 31 and 58 in the two outings. Young opener Pratika Rawal bounced back from a duck to score a fighting fifty. However, the lack of substantial contributions from experienced batters like Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma has hurt the side.

India’s bowling has also lacked penetration. Deepti has picked up three wickets, but the attack has struggled to contain Australia’s powerful line up. Fielding lapses, including dropped chances, have compounded the problem.

Australia, on the other hand, have looked clinical. A commanding century from Georgia Voll and fluent strokeplay from Phoebe Litchfield sealed the second ODI, while experienced names like Beth Mooney , Alyssa Healy , and Annabel Sutherland made key impacts earlier. Their bowling unit, spearheaded by Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner , has delivered consistently.

With Australia leading 6–4 in the multi format series, India will look to regroup quickly, sharpen their batting approach, and carry renewed confidence into the final ODI and the one off Test in Perth. The match begins at 9.20 am IST.