The much-awaited India Women tour of Australia 2026 begins with the first T20I on February 15 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The match will start at 1:45 PM IST (7:15 PM local time), marking the start of a multi-format series that includes three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test.
Australia Women, the world’s top-ranked side, will look to maintain their dominance at home. India Women, however, come into the series with good recent form and will aim for a strong start to challenge the hosts. With two strong teams facing each other, fans can expect high-quality cricket in the series opener.
IND W vs AUS W Match Details
| Match | Australia Women vs India Women, 1st T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | India Women Tour of Australia 2026 |
| Date | 15 February 2026 |
| Time | 1:45 PM IST (7:15 PM AEDT) |
| Venue | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (India) |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Australia Broadcast | Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports |
Australia Women Team Perview
Australia Women enter the series as favourites, especially with the advantage of home conditions. Their squad has a strong mix of experience and match-winners across departments.
Batters like Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield provide stability at the top, while all-rounders Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland add balance. Captain Sophie Molineux will lead the spin attack, supported by experienced pacer Megan Schutt and the pace of Darcie Brown.
Australia’s depth and familiarity with local conditions make them a tough side to beat.
Also see: AUS W vs IND W Toss & Match Prediction 1st T20I
India Women Team Preview
India Women will be aiming to start the series on a positive note after showing improvement in recent international tournaments. Their batting lineup will depend heavily on Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma for strong starts.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur anchors the middle order, while Richa Ghosh provides finishing power. All-rounder Deepti Sharma will be a key player with both bat and ball, and India’s bowling attack will rely on Renuka Singh’s swing and their spin options to control the middle overs.
If India’s top order clicks and the spinners perform well, they can challenge Australia in their home conditions.
Also see: AUS-W vs IND-W Dream11 Prediction Today Match 1st T20I
AUS-W vs IND-W Head-to-Head (T20Is)
| Matches | India Won | Australia Won | No Result | Tie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 7 | 26 | 1 | 1 |
Head-to-Head in Australia
| Matches | India Won | Australia Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
Australia have dominated the rivalry overall, but India have managed a few important wins in recent years.
Top Performers in AUS W vs IND W T20Is
Most Runs
| Player | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Mooney (AUS) | 908 | 45.40 | 123.03 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (IND) | 843 | 29.06 | 110.05 |
| Smriti Mandhana (IND) | 737 | 29.48 | 123.24 |
Most Wickets
| Player | Wickets | Economy | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma (IND) | 29 | 7.19 | 20.13 |
| Ellyse Perry (AUS) | 24 | 5.55 | 15.79 |
| Ashleigh Gardner (AUS) | 24 | 7.23 | 21.91 |
| Megan Schutt (AUS) | 21 | 7.52 | 28.38 |
IND W vs AUS W Pitch Report
The Sydney Cricket Ground offers a balanced surface in T20 cricket. The pitch provides good bounce, allowing batters to play their shots freely early in the innings.
Fast bowlers can get some swing and seam movement in the powerplay, while the surface tends to slow down later, bringing spinners into the game. The average first-innings score at the venue is around 150–170.
Evening matches often see dew, which makes chasing easier. Teams winning the toss are likely to bowl first to take advantage of the conditions.
Probable Playing XI
Australia Women
Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux (c), Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.
India Women
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav/Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Shree Charani.
Players to Watch
Australia Women:
Beth Mooney’s consistency at the top, Ellyse Perry’s all-round ability and Megan Schutt’s new-ball bowling will be crucial.
India Women:
Smriti Mandhana’s aggressive starts, Harmanpreet Kaur’s experience, Deepti Sharma’s all-round impact and Richa Ghosh’s finishing power could be key factors.
Key Match Scenario
- A total of 160+ will be competitive at SCG.
- Dew could make chasing easier in the second innings.
- Powerplay performance with both bat and ball will be crucial.
Match Prediction
Australia Women start as strong favourites due to their home advantage, squad depth and overall record in this rivalry. However, India Women have the talent and recent form to challenge the hosts if their top order delivers and the spinners control the middle overs.
If the chasing team takes advantage of the dew factor, the match could turn into a close contest. Overall, fans can expect an exciting start to the series between two of the strongest teams in women’s cricket.
