Get ready for an exciting new chapter in Australian women's cricket! The Aussies are back, and they're ready to take on the world champions, India, in a highly anticipated multi-format series.
Tahlia McGrath, the vice-captain of the Australian T20I squad, is leading the charge alongside new skipper Sophie Molineux and co-deputy Ashleigh Gardner. This dynamic trio is set to face their first challenge as a leadership group this Sunday at the SCG, kicking off a series of three T20Is against India.
But here's where it gets controversial... McGrath, who was one of the top candidates to replace the retired Alyssa Healy, has thrown her full support behind Molineux. Despite missing out on the full-time role, McGrath is eager to support her new captain and is confident in her abilities.
"I've had the honor of captaining my country 15 times, and it's been an incredible experience. I put my name forward for the role, but I'm thrilled to be backing Soph. I'm here to support her and help the team achieve great things. We've got some big tournaments coming up, and I believe Soph will lead us to success."
This series marks Australia's first international match since their heartbreaking ODI World Cup semi-final loss to India last October. It's also their first T20I since March 2023, so expectations are high. McGrath is expecting a tough battle against Harmanpreet Kaur's team, who are fresh off their World Cup victory and have already arrived in Sydney to begin training.
"Multi-format series are the ultimate test, and India is a world-class opponent. They're on a roll after their World Cup win, and we haven't played together as a squad in a while. But we're ready for the challenge, and it's going to be some incredible cricket."
McGrath, who had a challenging year with the bat and ball in 2025, is drawing confidence from her recent domestic 50-over performances for South Australia. She scored 58 and an unbeaten 43 in back-to-back wins over Victoria, and also picked up 3-48 with the ball.
"It was great to get some game time with South Australia and contribute to some wins. It's given me a real boost heading into this series."
The NRMA Insurance Australia v India Multi-Format Series is set to be a thrilling contest, with the first T20I taking place on February 15th at the SCG.
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
And this is the part most people miss... the series isn't just about T20Is! There are also ODIs and a Test match to look forward to. The full schedule is as follows:
T20Is:
- February 15: First T20, SCG, 7:15pm AEDT
- February 19: Second T20, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7:15pm AEDT
- February 21: Third T20, Adelaide Oval, 7:15pm AEDT
ODIs:
- February 24: First ODI, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 2:50pm AEDT
- February 27: Second ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
- March 1: Third ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
Test:
- March 6-9: Test match, WACA Ground, 4:20pm AEDT (D/N)
So, who do you think will come out on top in this highly anticipated series? Will Australia reclaim their dominance, or will India continue their winning streak? Let's discuss in the comments and share your predictions!
