The India Women’s national cricket team was engaged in a historic three-match One Day International ODI series with Ireland Women from January 10 to 15, 2025 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. This bilateral tour was Ireland Women’s first bilateral tour to India and therefore captured significant focus for both teams in their cricketing history.
The Indian Women team completely dominated the series winning all the three matches without even Ireland winning so much as a single match. The matches belonged to the 2022 – 2025 ICC Women’s Championship and added critical points to the two. The series was characterized with lots of strong individual skills, tactical gameplay of the matches, and the development of cricket relations between the two nations. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
1st ODI: 10th January 2025
India started the series off on a well balanced note as in the first game Ireland batted first and made a defendable score, which was chased and beaten quickly by India by 6 wickets thanks to Pratika Rawal’s 89 and Tejal Hasabnis’ 53 not out. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
2nd ODI: 12th January 2025
Game two saw India break records as Ireland was put to bat first and made a staggering total of 370 runs, the highest they have ever scored in ODIs. Jemimah Rodrigues was crucial as she made her first century (102) in ODIs. This led to India winning by 116 runs and securing the series. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
3rd ODI: 15th January 2025
India was looking to sweep the series in the last game and stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and opted to bat first. The bats men of India were on fire as the upper middle order provided great assistance. Ireland’s bowlers had trouble holding the runs back during the set and are finally able to set a high target. In the second game, Irelands batting line up collapsed under the pressure set by India, leading to a huge win for the home team. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Key Performances
Rawal kept performing constipation on the bowlers as he scored 310 runs overall in the series.
And of course a highlight to remember was the second ODI in which Jemimah Rodrigues scored an impressive century, further establishing her stature in international cricket. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
PRENDERGAST ORLA: PICKED UP FOUR WICKETS THROUGHOUT THE BOWLING IN A SERIES THAT IRELAND PLAYED.
A Brief History of the Rivalry between Indian and Irish Women Cricket Teams
When the Indian and Irish Women’s teams meet, a clash of rich cricketing backgrounds takes place, and it is not just a mere cricket match. India has always been a dominant force in women’s cricket and has always held her own on the world stage, And Ireland is trying to carve out a niche for herself in the big leagues and while they still have not scaled to the peak level, there is a world of potential.
The first and only time the two teams met was in the ICC Women’s World cup in 1993. From that point, the writers have had the chance to witness a couple of encounters between the teams in various formats. Ireland have improved over the games, but India has surely been more dominant overall.
Most recently, India Women and Ireland Women competed in a bilateral series and the match was played in a packed stadium full of lound fans. This match was very crucial for both teams and from a ranking perspective, it held a lot of value with them. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
The last match was hosted at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, and the weather was perfect for a 50 over match, with clear skies and no interruptions expected. The pitch also looked very good for a batsman, so there should be a lot of runs secured. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Pre–Match Build-Up
Team India’s Preparations
India went into the game confident having wrapped up a series victory. Their batting line-up was in exceptional form, with Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues leading the charge. The focus was to consolidate winning momentum and experiment with combinations for the world tournaments ahead.
Ireland’s Strategy
Ireland’s philosophy was based on getting an education and advance. The head coach stressed the need to focus on the building of partnerships, and disciplined bowling. The players were ready to learn from one of the best teams in the world. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Toss And The Playing XI
India’s stand-in captain, Smriti Mandhana, held the toss and subsequently opted to bat first, mirroring the conditions of the pitch which was expected to favor the batters.
India’s Playing XI Are:
Smriti Mandhana (Captain)
Pratika Rawal
Jemimah Rodrigues
Tejal Hasabnis
Deepti Sharma
Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
Devika Vaidya
Pooja Vastrakar
Radha Yadav
Meghna Singh
Renuka Singh
Ireland’s Playing XI Are:
Gaby Lewis (Captain)
Orla Prendergast
Leah Paul
Amy Hunter
Shauna Kavanagh (Wicketkeeper)
Laura Delany
Arlene Kelly
Cara Murray
Sophie MacMahon
Jane Maguire
Georgina Dempsey
India’s Batting Dominance
To start with, India’s batting line-up set the tone of class and strength.
Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal had a superb inning, with the opening stand fueling an 85-run partnership during the power play period. Because of Mandhana’s gorgeous cover drives and Rawal’s rotation on the strike, the Irish bowlers had no chance. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Jemimah Rodrigues played a decisive innings and was able to score her second fifty. She was invaluable in the innings and India was always a threat to bowlers. Tejil Hasbains aided that cause with a quick 45 runs which included three big sixes. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
India’s lower order batters were able to add decent runs with Pooja Vastrakar’s salvo late in the innings getting 35 runs off 18 balls. This decimated the Irish bowling attack, and India set a formidable target of 328/6 in 50 overs. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
There was a flicker of hope in the Irish bowlers displaying some brilliance during the match.
Orla Prendergast: The most impressive bowler for Ireland, taking the wickets of Mandhana and Rodrigues alongside other 3 scalps. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Cara Murray: Remained economical during the middle overs, which did stem the run rate of India.
Arlene Kelly: Picked up 2 wickets, at the expense of runs, but still conceding made her performance commendable.
India’s Bowling Efforts
Ireland had a hope on claiming this match, but chasing a target of 329 certainly does appear monumental. Their approach towards the innings however, was commendable.
Promising Start
Openers Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul put on 50 runs for the first wicket. Lewis looked in fine touch, scoring a quickfire 38 before falling to Renuka Singh.
Middle Order Struggles
Ireland’s middle order faltered against India’s spinners. Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma exploited the conditions effectively, picking up crucial wickets and breaking partnerships. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Late Resistance
Laura Delany and Arlene Kelly fought hard with a 75 run partnership for the seventh wicket. However, the mounting required run rate proved too much, and Ireland were bowled out for 224 in 47 overs.
India’s Bowling Excellence
India’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance, using variations and disciplined lines to restrict Ireland’s scoring. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Renuka Singh: Spearheaded the attack with figures of 3/35.
Radha Yadav: Her left arm spin proved decisive, claiming 2/30.
Deepti Sharma: Provided crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs.
Key Moments of India’s Innings
Mandhana’s Half-Century: Set the tone for India’s innings with a fluent knock.
Delany’s Grit: Her valiant 60 delayed India’s victory march.
Post-Match Analysis
India’s Strengths
Balanced team performance across batting and bowling.
Ireland’s Positives
Gaby Lewis and Laura Delany have shown promise.
The discipline of the bowling has improved from earlier games.
Areas for Improvement
India: Minor adjustment in the intensity level for the middle overs.
Ireland: Building stronger partnerships and bowling at the death overs.
Impact of the Match on Women’s Cricket
For India
India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series. These results have underscored India as a key player in Women’s cricket. It has also helped them to experiment with new combinations which are essential for the next tournaments. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
For Ireland
Even in defeat, Ireland has learnt crucial lessons. Such competitions are very important for any nation that wants to compete at a world stage. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
India
Next, India takes on Australia in a big series which is a measure of how well India is prepared for the ICC Women’s World Cup.
Ireland
Ireland will now turn their attention to the local conditions ahead of a triangular series with Bangladesh and the Netherlands. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who was the Player of the Match?
For making 73 runs and excelling on the field, Jemimah Rodrigues was named the Player of the Match.
What were the highlights of the match?
Among the prominent highlights were India’s display of aggressive batting, the spirited chase by Ireland’s players, and delany’s fighting knock.
How has this series impacted Ireland’s ICC ranking?
Ireland will not win this match, but the experience will be priceless for the future.
What are India’s chances in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup?
India is one of the favorites because of their present form combined with the depth of batting and bowling in the squad.
What improvements can Ireland make for future matches?
Ireland can work towards creating partnerships and improving their execution in high-pressure situations.
How did the crowd react to the match?
The crowd was quite excited and surfaced the spirit of women’s cricket by supporting both teams.
Conclusion
The match between the India Women and the Ireland Women was not just a game but a celebration of women’s cricket and the increasing competitive nature of the sport. India won convincingly, but Ireland didn’t walk away empty handed as they gained some valuable insights to build on. This meeting highlighted the significance of such bilateral series to improve the cricketing relations of both countries and serve as an opportunity to showcase new talent. India Women vs Ireland Women depth Review of the Recent ODI Series.