India Women vs Australia Women 1st T20I Live: Harmanpreet Kaur in action. (FILE photo)India Women (IND-W) vs Australia Women (AUS-W) 1st T20I Updates: Rain forced an early end with India comfortably ahead in the run-chase in the first T20I against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Chasing 134, India were off to a flying start, reaching 50/1 after 5.1 overs when rain became strong enough for players to be taken off the field at SCG. The DLS par score was 29 and with 5.1 overs bowled, the match was just about deemed complete and India were winners by 21 runs.
Earlier, Arundhati Reddy picked up four wickets as India produced a superb bowling and fielding effort after Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bowl first against Sophie Molineux’s Australia in the first of the three-match T20I series. Australia were bowled out for 133 in 18 overs, with Reddy’s four-for complemented by Renuka Singh Thakur, Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma. Australia lost their last five wickets for just 12 runs to collapse with two overs to spare.
With points at stake in each of the matches across all three formats – two points each for a win in T20Is and ODIs and four points at stake in the one-off Pink-ball Test in Perth – every game assumes importance, but the bigger picture for both sides would be the T20Is that kickstart the tour. Across Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide, India would be hoping to fine-tune their T20 World Cup preparations while Australia would kick off the post-Alyssa Healy era under Sophie Molineux’s leadership. Read the series preview here.
AUSTRALIA XI: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Darcie Brown.
INDIA XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimha Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur.
FOLLOW ALL THE UPDATES BETWEEN IND VS AUS BELOW
India take the lead Down Under. The next match is on February 19 in Canberra.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe match has been called off due to rain.#teamindia win the 1⃣st T20I by 21 runs (DLS Method) 👏
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 15, 2026
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/juV5IzNYcG#ausvind️ pic.twitter.com/wyiO9WtAEb
Confirmation from BCCI's match center too
And it is indeed done for the day.
Match called off as per Cricket Australia's match center.
India get off to a winning start in the multi-format series with a 21-run win (DLS) and take a 2-0 lead.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the match has been called off. We are still awaiting official word, and possibly some post-match thoughts. The Indian broadcasters have been showing highlights before the match and now during the break as well, so we wait for the official word.
As we wait for some update on resumption of play, here's the superb six from Shafali, the first of the night.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThat is absolutely sent by Shafali Verma 💫 #ausvind pic.twitter.com/bfnpzCS86F
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 15, 2026
According to ESPNCricinfo, the DLS par score at the moment is 29 and India are far ahead. With 5.1 overs completed, we will have a result in this match and if play doesn't resume, India are comfortable winners.
Earlier today, Australia were bowled out for only the second in a home women's T20I. The previous occasion was against New Zealand, that they went on to win.
ESPNCricinfo reporting full covers are coming on. That's not a good sign, we presume. Here's the Shafali Verma wicket, meanwhile.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsNew skipper Sophie Molineux took a wicket with her first ball, just as her team was desparate for a breakthrough! @nrmainsurance #playoftheday | #ausvind pic.twitter.com/PQFzoHQxLP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 15, 2026
ICYMI earlier: Couple of dropped catches notwithstanding a brilliant fielding and bowling display from India at SCG. This was a key moment as Harmanpreet took a lovely catch to dismiss Ellyse Perry.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsHarmanpreet Kaur pulls off a stunner to dismiss Ellyse Perry 😱 #ausvind pic.twitter.com/oTPpvV4mu6
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 15, 2026
The commentators also inform us that there is more rain on the radar. So this might be a significant break. And perhaps longer to get the outfield ready too.
RAIN STOPS PLAY: Jemimah Rodrigues hits a well-timed glance for four. And immediately after, rain comes down.
Since 5.1 overs have been bowled, the match will have a result. And the commentators tell us that India are well ahead on the DLS system.
Oh wow, despite that Shafali wicket, it's a brilliant over for India. Jemimah walks in and cuts the first ball like she has been batting on this pitch for a while. Classic Jemi. And then Smriti finishes the over with a couple of gorgeous strokes, first a lofted short-arm jab over square leg and then a signature drive past mid off. Gorgeous timing.
CAPTAIN SOPHIE STRIKES FIRST BALL! In her first match as Australia's captain, in her first over, in her first ball, she removes the dangerous-looking Shafali Verma. Shorter ball, but follows Shafali down the leg side and the Indian opener picks out the fielder at deep midwicket this time.
Shafali Verma c Georgia Wareham b Sophie Molineux 21 (11 balls)
SHAFALI VERMA! Uff, this is terrific ball-striking. Slightly full from Nicola Carey, just outside the offstump, there is a fielder at deep midwicket... but none of that matters as Shafali nails one off the middle of her bat. Sounded so sweet. And it hits the boundary fence, never mind the drawn in ropes. Follows that up with a crisp square cut for four. Superb over for India, that.
An interesting over from Brown. A couple of loose wides angling across Mandhana. But she comes back with a terrific slower over, dropping the speed by almost 40 kph, and it draws a false sweep from Mandhana who gets away with a lucky top edge. Beaten by a slower ball again off the last ball. Testing. But India, crucially, not giving a wicket to Australia for now.
The first six of the night and it is from the bat of Shafali Verma. Kim Garth trying to extract some swing early with the new ball and floats one full length, but Shafali is ready for it and goes over extra cover with some style and lot of power. A 74m six! It's a 8-run over and India are off to a steady start.
A tidy over from Darcie Brown to start off, but India looking to rotate strike early on, that's a good sign. The outfield is not the fastest with the rain that it took before the match, so rotating is key.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma out in the middle.
Ash Gardner is mic'd up and she sums up the task ahead for Australia: Take early wickets and put the Indian middle, and lower-middle order, under pressure.
In India's previous T20I series, we saw Shafali Verma 2.0
Arundhati Reddy in Australia:
Her previous outing before today: 4/26 in Perth ODI
First match of this tour: 4/22 in Sydney T20I
Both career best figures.
Australia bowled out! A terrific length delivery, looks like she might have rolled her fingers across a leg cutter and Arundhati Reddy has cleaned up Darcie Brown. Australia have crumbled in 18 overs. Not a sight you see often.
Darcie Brown b Arundhati Reddy 1 (5 balls)
Garth goes for the big hit through square leg, but Charani follows her and finds the fielder at short fine. Renuka takes a shaky catch.
The uber-aggressive approach from Australia hasn't paid off today, but you can see the thinking, if they have batting till 10, then perhaps they can have the license to go hard right through. The problem is, on days it doesn't come through, it can appear to have misfired spectacularly.
Kim Garth c Renuka Singh b Sree Charani 2 (5 balls)
Beautiful delivery from Renuka Singh Thakur but even better glovework from Richa Ghosh. Fantastic stumping while standing up to the stumps to a medium pacer. The ball shaped away ever so slightly from Sutherland and she overbalanced after getting beaten, the backleg stumbles in front and she is unable to reach back.
Annabel Sutherland st Richa Ghosh b Renuka Singh 3 (6 balls)
And Sree Charani gets in on the wicket-taking party! Short of length, skids through and the cut shot by Nicola Carey doesn't go where it is intended to. She misses, Charani hits. Bails light up. India keep picking up the wickets.
Two new batters in again.
Nicola Carey b Sree Charani 12 (12 balls)
Sree Charani's catching REALLY, REALLY needs to improve. A sweep from Wareham, who had hit two fours in the over earlier, goes to Sree at square leg and she puts down a sitter. Thankfully for India, they get the wicket next ball. Low full toss from Arundhati, lofted to Deepti at cover who doesn't drop these. And to add to the events of the over, Arundhati puts down a return catch off the last ball and Annabel Sutherland gets a life.
Georgia Wareham c Deepti Sharma b Arundhati Reddy 30 (19 balls)
What was shaping into a really good over from Deepti – with 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 off the first 5 balls – Nicola Carey shows why she has been brought back into the T20I setup. A brilliant cut shot for four off the last ball.
Australia, despite losing 9 wickets, still going at over 8.5 per over.
Sree Charani comes into the attack pretty late, especially that the dangerous leftie Litchfield is now back in the pavilion. Carey is still out there but can't hide a left-arm spinner forever we suppose. But it is the righty Wareham who smashes a four in that over, lovely driving through cover. She is a dangerous batter in the lower order.
Shreyanka Patil concedes an early boundary in her comeback over after going for plenty in her first... but manages to come back well to make it an 8-run over.
The wikcets keep tumbling! And Australia lose their 5th as Phoebe Litchfield (who was looking in sensational touch) falls. Arundhati has her 2nd. Tries to go across the line, over midwicket, but the leading edge goes nowhere and Richa Ghosh makes no mistake.
Phoebe Litchfield c Richa Ghosh b Arundhati Reddy 26 (19 balls)
Tempted to say Australia are in trouble but out walks the Belinda Clark Medal winner Annabel Sutherland is yet to walk in. Wareham is joined by Nicola Carey.
It was another expensive over but India keep picking up wickets... which they have to against this never-ending Australian batting lineup. Litchfield brought out that signature right-hander's sweep with a switch hit for four early in the over.
And Deepti strikes in the first over! Wonderful flight and dip, her trademark skills. Gardner is early into the shot and taps it to Harmanpreet Kaur at midwicket. Less than 75kph that one.
Ashleigh Gardner c Harmanpreet Kaur b Deepti Sharma 4 (6 balls)
Harry takes Perry! Superb running catch from mid off, running back and putting in the dive to complete a superb effort to dismiss Ellyse Perry, who was looking proper dangerous. "Catch, catch Harry!" was the cry from Richa Ghosh behind the stumps as Perry drove through the line to a length delivery from Arundhati Reddy.
Ellyse Perry c Harmanpreet Kaur b Arundhati Reddy 20 (11 balls)
And now Perry nails the ramp shot against Kranti after bringing it out earlier in the piece. And clearly it is something Australia have discussed in their batting meetings... they have identified this as an area to. target Kranti, because Litchfield brings out the ramp again in the over and gets it right for four. Another four follows as Litchfield mishits a cover drive but goes behind square for four. Finishes the over with a fourth four as she hits a pull shot.
Kranti has been taken down in her first three overs of the tour. She was targetted by Healy and Co in the World Cup league fixture too. Clear plan from Australia.
It is an EXPENSIVE RETURN to international cricket for Shreyanka Patil. Would Harmanpreet Kaur be better off sticking to pace in that sixth over with perhaps Arundhati Reddy? Anyway, hindsight. In reality, it's a relief for Litchfield who gets off the mark with a double and then lofts a low full toss for four over mid on. Then Perry takes on her RCB teammate to hit two fours to finish the powerplay. Lovely flick through long leg and then lofted down the ground.
WOW, AMIDST ALL THE HAPPENINGS, A MAIDEN OVER! Six dot balls in the powerplay to one of the most dangerous batters in the world. Renuka Singh Thakur sticks to that angle of hers and a metronomic over ends up being a maiden and leaves Pehobe Litchfield very frustrated. Great fielding too in the ring, India very alert there.
Perry had to walk down the other end to presumably calm Litchfield down. A very busy batter always, she didn't like getting bogged down. Yet to get off the mark.
Wow, Ellyse Perry tries the ramp almost immediately after walking out to bat. We don't see that often! That legend is looking to still evolve her batting after all these years eh? Last ball of the over, however, it's the classical Ellyse Perry cover drive.. crisp and superbly timed for four.
It's been an all-action powerplay so far.
Kranti strikes! Kranti Gaud could potentially have a really big role to play in the Australian pitches over the next three weeks. She strikes in her second over to remove Georgia Voll. The ball was pitched on a good length, after a fuller ball was smashed down the ground by Voll previous delivery. The wobble seam seems to have moved late to cramp Voll. Caught behind.
Georgia Voll c Richa Ghosh b Kranti Gaud 18 (10 balls)
Nice start for India as Beth Mooney falls early. India pack the offside field especially on the square and go full with Renuka angling the ball across. Mooney decides to go against the angle and gets the top edge. Good plan, well executed and it pays off. Manadhana completes the high catch at cover.
Beth Mooney c Mandhana b Renuka Singh 5 (8 balls)
Litchfield comes in at No 3.
WOW. That will go down as perhaps the worst review of the entire series and we are only in the second over of 7 matches. Deepti Sharma was convinced Voll got some bat on this attempted scoop but it is nowhere close. Harmanpreet didn't want to review but she was coaxed into it eventually. Voll finishes the over well again with a lofted square cut for four, that just flew over the fielder at point. Eventful start to this match alright.
Source: JioHotstar
A quiet start to the match, a lengthy delay between the first and second balls of the over due to evidently some sightscreen issue. Renuka keeps Voll quiet for the first few deliveries but the Aussie opener tees off in the last two balls, a lofted on drive on her knees and a crisp pull shot for two fours to finish the over.
Kranti from the other end.
Another chapter in this rivalry. A multi-format series between Australia and India Down Under. But make no mistake, the T20Is are the most important part of it. India take on Sophie Molineux's first T20I XI. The iconic SCG to kick things off.
Here we go, Renuka Singh Thakur has the new ball. Beth Mooney opens with Georgia Voll in a XI without Alyssa Healy. Grace Harris, who opened for RCB for WPL champions, misses out in the XI today.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the national anthems are about to start as the match is delayed by a few minutes.
Vaishnavi Sharma, after her superb debut series against Sri Lanka, is left out. Shreyanka Patil comes in for her India comeback after a long time out due to multiple injuries. Arundhati Reddy gets the nod ahead of Amanjot Kaur as well.
AUSTRALIA XI: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Darcie Brown.
INDIA XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimha Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur.
Image courtesy: BCCIWomen / X
Harmanpreet Kaur wins a delayed toss and India will be bowling first at what appears to be a gloomy Sydney Cricket Ground. Team news awaited.
UPDATE FROM @BCCIWomen on X: Toss Update: Toss delayed due to rain in the 1st T20I in Sydney. Stay tuned for further updates.
MOLINEUX'S MISSION: "There is so much experience and skill in this team, and the girls are really driven to succeed for Australia, so it's just bringing it all together (as captain)," Molineux said ahead of the T20Is. "I've got some amazing vice-captains in Ash (Gardner) and Tahlia (McGrath), and they're going to be a big part of getting things aligned and making sure we're all (going in) the same direction. "We've got a T20 World Cup coming up soon ... we have to kick things into gear pretty quick. "There's probably not a whole heap of really big changes that are really obvious, but it's just the small day to day things that we can always get better at."
via cricket.com.au
With points at stake in each of the matches across all three formats – two points each for a win in T20Is and ODIs and four points at stake in the one-off Pink-ball Test in Perth – every game assumes importance, but the bigger picture for both sides would be the T20Is that kickstart the tour. Across Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide, India would be hoping to fine-tune their T20 World Cup preparations while Australia being the post-Alyssa Healy era under Sophie Molineux's leadership.
POINTS SYSTEM:
2 points for winning a T20I
2 points for winning a ODI
4 points for winning the Test (2-2 in case of a draw)
So a total of 6+6+4 = 16 points at stake
India had one warmup match since landing in Australia, taking on Governor-General's XI. GG XI made 120/8 batting first at North Sydney Oval. Sianna Ginger, promising allrounder, made an unbeaten 40 lower down the order. India's bowlers shared the wickets around, with Arundhati Reddy and Shreyanka Patil picking up two each. In response, India cruised to the target in 17.3 overs with Smriti Mandhana top-scoring on 36 off 29 balls. Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh made useful contributions as well.
Bharti Fulmali and Shreyanka Patil were recalled to the T20I setup. Fulmali had been in good form for Gujarat Giants in the early part of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, where her explosive knocks lower down the innings have propelled the side, either batting first or second. The right-hander has earlier played two T20Is for India, the last of which came against England in Guwahati in 2019. Patil, who had been out of action for a long time due to multiple injuries, had a solid WPL season for champions RCB and also claimed her maiden WPL five-wicket haul against the Giants, claiming 5/23 to lead her side to a 32-run win. The 23-year-old has played 16 T20Is for India, the last of which came against Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup in Sharjah.
Australia T20I squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil
India vs Australia in women's T20IS
Matches played: 35
India wins: 7
Australia wins: 26
Tied: 1
N/R: 1
T20I series schedule:
Feb 15, Sydney Cricket Ground, 1.45 pm IST
Feb 19: Manuka Oval, Canberra, 1.45 pm IST
Feb 21: Adelaide Oval, 1.45 pm IST
All the cricket talk may have been mostly about the Indian men and their high voltage match against Pakistan but just a few months ago, it was this fixture that sent tidal waves around the world. India ended Australia's world dominance on their way to a historic World Cup title. However, everyone who knows even a slight but about cricket would tell you that Australia's dominance in the women's game will never really come to an end. Titles may be won and lost but Australia will always be the team to beat. If India are to truly establish a status as the new world leaders of the game, this tour of Australia is their litmus test, starting with this T20I series, followed by an ODI rubber and then a one off Test.
They might have been dethroned as World Champions in both T20Is and ODIs, but there is little doubt that Australia remain the gold standard in women’s cricket. And India, who did the dethroning from the 50-over format in Navi Mumbai on that famous October night not so long ago, should know that better than anyone. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side has fallen at the Australian hurdle enough times in the past. READ MORE
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