India secured a historic victory against Ireland, winning the third and final ODI match by 304 runs, marking their largest margin of victory ever in women’s ODI cricket. This match, held on January 15, 2025, at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, completed India’s clean sweep of the series, having already won the first two matches convincingly.
The match began with India winning the toss and choosing to bat first, aiming to capitalize on the solid performances they had delivered throughout the series. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal set the tone with explosive innings, which contributed significantly to India’s imposing total of 435 runs.
Pratika Rawal was particularly outstanding, scoring 154 runs off 138 balls, and her spectacular performance garnered her both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series titles. "It is always good to score runs and contribute to the team, which boosts my confidence as well," said Rawal after her brilliant outing. She expressed delight at her achievement, highlighting her enjoyment of batting alongside Smriti Mandhana, who scored 135 runs, including the fastest century by an Indian woman, achieved off just 70 deliveries.
Richa Ghosh’s quickfire innings of 59 runs also bolstered India’s score, demonstrating the depth of talent within the team. The Indian women established their highest-ever ODI total with this match, and it was one of only six instances across all women’s ODIs where teams have surpassed the 400-run mark.
While the Indian batting lineup shone brightly, the Irish team struggled to cope with the pressure of such a formidable target. They were bundled out for just 131 runs within 32 overs. Deepti Sharma was instrumental with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 27 runs, and she was well-supported by Tanuja Kanwar, who secured her first international wickets, ending with impressive figures of 2/29.
The Irish side, led by captain Gaby Lewis, faced severe challenges throughout their innings. Despite their determination and some promising starts, none of the batters were able to convert their starts for significant scores. Lewis remarked, "There’s a lot to take away from this series. It was our first time playing in India and it has been a great experience. We will take many learnings from it." She praised the Indian players for their impressive skills, especially acknowledging the brilliant partnership between Mandhana and Rawal.
The Indian bowlers were relentless, applying pressure from the outset. The Irish batswomen were unable to find their rhythm, and after losing their wicket early, they continuously faltered against the spinning attack. After harming the Irish innings with quick strikes, it became clear to onlookers long before the end of the game which way the match was heading.
Deepti Sharma took center stage, capturing scattershot wickets, and her success with the ball reflected the dominance of the Indian side from batting through to bowling. She noted, "Leading a bowling unit is challenging but rewarding, especially when the team performance is as strong as today." Sharma’s ability to capture wickets and maintain tight bowling will surely be pivotal as the Indian team heads toward upcoming competitions including the Women’s ODI World Cup.
With their win today, India Women head off to their break before embarking on their next white-ball tour to England starting June 28, 2025. Meanwhile, Ireland Women will shift their focus to preparing for the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifiers, hoping to leverage this series experience to bolster their future efforts.
Reflecting on the day's events, Indian coach Amol Muzumdar pointed out, "We are satisfied not only with defeating Ireland 3-0 but with significantly improving our existing benchmarks as well. Our batting looks solid, the depth we have shown today is encouraging as we approach tougher challenges." His sentiments echo the optimism surrounding Indian women’s cricket, highlighted by remarkable individual performances and team coherence throughout the series.
Overall, this match and the series concludes with India establishing their superiority over Ireland with remarkable displays of batting, bowling, and fielding, setting the tone for what lies ahead with confidence and unity as they prepare for future competitions. The statistics will surely resonate within the Indian team, forging new pathways as they aim for excellence on the international stage.