The stage is set for an exciting three-match ODI series between India Women and Ireland Women, who both will face each other in the first match on Friday at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot. This is the first-ever bilateral series between both teams. India, meanwhile, have been riding a wave of success after thumping West Indies 3-0 in the three-match ODI series last month.
They will look to continue with the same rhythm against Ireland as well. India will be led by stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been rested. Mandhana, on the other hand, has shown enough consistency with bat, blazing 91, and 53 in the first two ODIs against West Indies.
Ireland Women, on the other hand, will be keen to make a statement after a mixed run of form in recent matches. They are set to face huge challenge against confident India. The team will rely heavily on skipper, Gaby Lewis, who has been a standout performer for the side. Alongside her, players like Sarah Forbes and Orla Prendergast bring experience and firepower to the lineup.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Matches: 12
India Women WON: 12
Ireland Women WON: 0
INDIA WOMEN PROBABLE XI: Smriti Mandhana (c), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma (VC), Saima Thakor, Minnu Mani, Titas Sadhu, Priya Mishra, Tanuja Kanwer
IRELAND WOMEN PROBABLE XI: Sarah Forbes, Gaby Lewis (C), Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Una Raymond-Hoey, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Freya Sargent, Aimee Maguire, Ava Canning