India captain Harmanpreet Kaur sustained an injury during the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on February 24 and did not take the field in the second innings.
Harmanpreet required treatment at the end of the 38th over of India’s innings. She was on 40 off 67 balls at the time and went on to score 53 from 84 deliveries, helping India post a modest total of 214. The skipper batted until the 44th over, stitching a crucial partnership with Kashvee Gautam, who made 43 off 44 balls.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later confirmed that Harmanpreet had injured her left knee while batting and remains under medical observation.
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“Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has not taken the field in the second innings after sustaining an injury to her left knee while batting. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring her progress. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is leading the side in her absence,” the board said in a statement.
Her availability for the remainder of the series remains uncertain. In her absence, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana assumed leadership duties.
Harmanpreet’s half-century had revived India’s innings after the visitors were struggling at 140 for 6 in the 34th over. Mandhana had earlier set the tone with a fluent 58 off 68 at the top of the order, but the rest of the batting line-up faltered. Pratika Rawal, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma were all dismissed for single-digit scores.
The second ODI will be played at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on February 27, with the third and final match scheduled at the same venue on March 1. The series will conclude with a one-off Test in Perth from March 6 to 9.
