Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar was quick to celebrate on social media. Describing it as a ‘historic achievement,’ he congratulated Rahul Dravid on his Colonel C.K. Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award. Tendulkar’s shoutouts extended to Roger Binny of the 1983 World Cup squad, Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana, and Shubman Gill, capturing the event’s unifying spirit under one roof for past, present, and future stars.

Anil Kumble, another titan of the game, shared his excitement online. ‘Thrilled to see five ICC title winners together at BCCI Naman Awards,’ he wrote, specially congratulating Dravid and hailing Binny as his inaugural captain. Kumble’s warm wishes covered Mandhana, Gill, Raj, and every recipient.

Hosted in the presence of key BCCI officials and ICC chief Jay Shah, the night saw Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny, and Mithali Raj receive lifetime accolades. Shubman Gill’s dominance in white-ball and red-ball cricket earned him the Polly Umrigar Award. Smriti Mandhana’s international prowess fetched her the women’s top honor.

Domestic sensations like Shefali Verma and Ayush Mhatre, fresh off U-19 World Cup glory, were applauded. Debutants N. Shri Charani and Harshit Rana shone bright, and Mumbai Cricket Association was feted for tournament excellence.

The Naman Awards transcended mere prizes, weaving a tapestry of India’s cricket narrative—from World Cup triumphs to budding prodigies—ensuring the sport’s flame burns eternally bright.

Mithali Raj, the trailblazer of Indian women’s cricket, and Roger Binny, ex-BCCI chief, were fellow lifetime recipients, celebrating decades of service. The event transitioned seamlessly to contemporary heroes: Shubman Gill as best international men’s cricketer, Smriti Mandhana’s record fifth women’s award, and debut awards for Harshit Rana and Shree Charani.

Mandhana’s dual dominance in runs and her category shone, matched by Deepti Sharma’s wicket haul in ODIs. Home turf heroes included Mumbai’s top domestic showing, all-round brilliance from Ayush Mhatre (limited-overs) and Harsh Dubey (Ranji), plus junior excellence. Shefali Verma ruled senior women’s domestic ODIs, while under-16 aces like Yashvardhan Singh Chauhan and Shantanu Singh, and U19 stars such as Hemchudan J and Nitya J Pandya, claimed bowling and batting crowns in elite groups.

Ranji elites YV Rathod (runs) and Harsh Dubey (wickets) led the way, with plate group standouts like Snehal Kauthankar and Suchit J. This comprehensive recognition from BCCI paints a vibrant picture of cricket’s depth in India, honoring past masters while spotlighting future champions.

Dominating white-ball cricket, Mandhana scored 1362 ODI runs in 23 innings at 61 average, with five hundreds and five fifties at 109 strike rate. In T20Is, nine games yielded 341 runs at 135 strike rate, marked by a century and two half-centuries. Combining formats, her 1800 runs from 36 matches included seven centuries.

The crown jewel was India’s maiden Women’s ODI World Cup win hosted at home. Mandhana’s 434 runs in nine outings, averaging 54 with one century and two fifties, placed her second on the run charts. In the title clash versus South Africa, her 45 off 58 with Shafali Verma’s century partnership shifted momentum decisively.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur captured the emotion: ‘This win means everything. From the inception of women’s cricket, ICC silverware was our dream. Every player shared it, and achieving it fills me with pride for our squad.’

As Mandhana collects accolades, her legacy as a prolific run-machine and clutch performer continues to inspire a generation, promising more triumphs ahead.

The left-hander’s ascent was fueled by a composed 58-run knock in Brisbane’s opener and a fighting 31 in Hobart, showcasing her adaptability on seaming pitches. This pinnacle moment arrives at a crucial juncture for Mandhana, who has long been pegged as a future star.

Switching to spin mastery, Alana King has wrested the bowling crown from Sophie Ecclestone’s four-year grip. With 775 rating points, King’s haul of seven wickets this week—including a match-defining 4/33 against India in the decider—sealed Australia’s series triumph by 185 runs.

The Aussies’ spin and pace arsenal is formidable, boasting Gardner (3rd), Sutherland (5th), Schutt (7th), and Garth (8th) in the top eight bowlers. Their ODI sweep, featuring fireworks from Mooney (3rd batter, 749), Gardner (5th, 724), and Healy’s farewell ton (4th, 744), marked a strong recovery post-T20 setbacks.

India’s Harmanpreet Kaur, despite the clean sweep loss, climbed to 9th with 652 points on the back of three solid outings. All-rounder Gardner solidified her No.1 status at 516, dwarfing Matthews’ 418. Sutherland advanced two spots, and Voll’s 23-place jump to 34th in batting signals emerging talent.

As the rankings evolve, they paint a vibrant picture of global women’s cricket, blending experience with youthful exuberance and setting the stage for exhilarating battles ahead.

Smriti Mandhana, leading in Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence, was candid about the collapse. Filling in as skipper, she said, ‘Early wickets hurt us badly. Recovery was attempted, but the pitch played differently than planned.’

Kaur’s knee injury sidelined her after a gritty 53. Mandhana hopes for her quick return, though details remain unclear.

No panic changes to the team, vowed Mandhana. ‘Our form is solid; we stick with the lineup despite this setback.’

Opting to bat, India managed 214, powered by Mandhana’s 58, Kaur’s 53, Gautam’s 43, and Ghosh’s 23. But Australia’s Mooney (76 off 79) and Healy (50 off 70) dismantled the target effortlessly.

The defeat exposes batting frailties against probing Australian attack. Mandhana called for collective responsibility: ‘We need to build partnerships and set bigger scores as one.’

With the series at stake, India must regroup swiftly to level terms in Brisbane.

‘Today, batting first aligns perfectly with our game plan,’ Harmanpreet remarked post-toss. The Gabba’s legacy reveals a pitch favoring chases slightly—12 successes versus 10 defending scores in 22 ODIs—but India’s recent form suggests they can buck the trend. First innings averages hover around 212 runs, promising a competitive outing.

Recapping the T20Is: India stunned Australia by 21 runs (DLS) in game one, absorbed a 19-run defeat in the second, then sealed the series 2-1 with a 17-run victory in the finale. Against Australia’s imposing 49-12 head-to-head lead in 61 ODIs, India seeks to narrow the gap.

Team compositions highlight star power. India’s lineup: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rao, Shefali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (keeper), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur. Australia fields Alyssa Healy (c), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ashley Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.

As openers stride out, the series opener could redefine rivalries. Will India build on T20 momentum for an ODI upset? The contest unfolds with high stakes and higher expectations.

The statistics are daunting. Australia holds a perfect 12-0 record in bilateral ODI series against India. Across 61 matches, they’ve claimed 49 wins to India’s 12. Yet, recent memory offers hope—their World Cup 2025 semi-final upset over the Aussies showcased India’s potential.

Smriti Mandhana’s T20 exploits set the tone, and teammates Shefali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and Jemimah Rodrigues are primed to deliver. Rodrigues has a knack for Aussie bowlers, promising fireworks. Renuka Singh heads the seam attack with Kranti Gaud’s support, as Amanjot Kaur eyes all-round impact.

On the flip side, Australia rallies post-T20 defeat. Alyssa Healy’s swan song in ODIs adds emotional fuel; she’ll bat fiercely. With four wins in five recent ODIs, they’re favorites, but India’s back-to-back-to-back ODI successes signal danger.

This matchup pits momentum against legacy. Can India rewrite the narrative? The Gabba awaits answers.

Recapping the T20Is: India adapted brilliantly to rain-affected conditions in the first match, winning by 21 runs under DLS. Australia responded fiercely, taking the second by 19 runs. In a nail-biter finale, India defended stoutly to win by 17 runs, sealing the deal.

The ODI series kicks off Tuesday at Brisbane’s Gabba (9:20 AM IST), shifts to Hobart’s Bellerive Oval for the next two on February 27 and March 1. All games promise fierce competition under the Australian sun.

Australia has long ruled ODIs against India, boasting 49 victories in 61 matches since 1978. Yet, India’s evolving squad, blending youth and experience, poses a real threat. Key players like Mandhana and Verma will be crucial in chasing history.

Full schedule:
– Feb 24: Brisbane (Gabba), 9:20 AM IST
– Feb 27: Hobart (Bellerive Oval), 9:20 AM IST
– Mar 1: Hobart (Bellerive Oval), 9:20 AM IST

India 15: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Prtitika Rao, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Vaishnavi Sharma, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Kashvee Gautam.

Australia 14: Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux (c), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Alana King, Annabel Sutherland, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Darcie Brown.

After ODIs, the tour culminates with a Test in Perth from March 6. Fans are buzzing—will India conquer the ODI giants?

Batting first, India racked up 176/6, powered by captain Smriti Mandhana’s masterful 82-run essay laced with 8 fours and 3 sixes off 55 deliveries. Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with a brisk 59, ensuring a competitive total.

In reply, Australia managed only 159/9 despite Ashley Gardner’s gritty 57 featuring 6 boundaries. India’s spin duo, Shreyanka Patil and Sree Charani, excelled with identical hauls of 3/xx each, defending the total with aplomb.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia celebrated the win on X: ‘Outstanding performance by India in clinching the T20 series 2-1. Great start to the multi-format series in Australia. Keep it up for the ODIs.’

The series narrative was edge-of-the-seat: a DLS-aided 21-run win in the first game, followed by a 19-run defeat in the second. Annabel Sutherland’s 4 wickets kept Australia in the hunt briefly.

Phoebe Litchfield added 26 for the hosts, but tight Indian fielding and bowling variations sealed the deal. With ODIs lined up from February 24, this series win signals India’s readiness to upset the world champions on their patch, echoing their rare successes from a decade ago.

Shafali Verma’s dismissal for 7 left India in early trouble at 19 for 1. Enter Mandhana and Rodrigues, who forged a match-defining 121-run stand. The opener’s aggressive 82 off 55 balls – featuring 8 fours and 3 massive sixes – had the crowd on edge before she perished. Rodrigues anchored with 59 runs from 46 balls, finding the boundary 4 times.

Richa Ghosh’s explosive 18 off just 7 deliveries pushed the score higher, though captain Harmanpreet Kaur ended unbeaten on 2 amid two dramatic run-outs on the last two balls. Australia’s bowlers struck back late, with Annabel Sutherland grabbing a brace, and Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux chipping in with one wicket apiece.

Spotlight also on Ellyse Perry, marking her 350th international appearance – a milestone making her Australia’s most-capped woman cricketer. Alyssa Healy trails at 295 games. Series poised at 1-1, this decider revives memories of India’s 2015-16 series win Down Under (2-1). Can Australia chase down 177, or will India defend successfully?