India need more all-rounders: Anjum

Tough questions loom for Harmanpreet Kaur and her team as Australia clean swept India in their home ODI series.

- Samreen Razzaqui

NEW DELHI: India are yet to win a bilateral one-day series in Australia, an attempt made all the more challenging by their dominance at home.

India's last tour of Australia was in September 2021, featuring three ODIs, a day-night Test and three T20Is. Back then, India delivered a more competitive display, narrowly losing the first two ODIs before winning the third. However, this time around, India were outplayed thoroughly, losing the first ODI by 5 wickets, the second by 122 runs and the third by 83 runs. The squad saw changes partly due to form and injuries, but the series has underlined flaws that are too stark.

The batting line-up contains at least four players that are familiar with the conditions due to their experience and Women's Big Bash League appearances. More was expected specifically from Smriti Mandhana, skipper Harmanpreet, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, said former India skipper and commentator Anjum Chopra.