Harmanpreet Kaur’s India will look to seize an unassailable lead against Australia when the two sides meet in the second and penultimate T20 International on Thursday.

India head into the clash brimming with confidence after a rain-affected but commanding win in the series opener in Sydney. It was a clinical bowling performance that set the tone, led by seamer Arundhati Reddy, whose superb 4/22 dismantled the Australian batting line-up. The hosts were bowled out for a modest 133, unable to bat out their full quota of 20 overs.

The victory, sealed via the Duckworth-Lewis System due to rain interruptions, gave India early momentum in a multi-format tour that also includes three ODIs and a one-off Test.

While the bowlers had a productive outing, India’s batting unit had limited time in the middle. Only openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma managed to spend significant time at the crease before rain curtailed proceedings.

However, concerns over batting readiness are minimal. Most Indian players arrive battle-hardened from the recently concluded Women’s Premier League, carrying valuable match practice into the series.

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India will once again hope for an explosive start from Shafali and the elegance of Mandhana at the top, followed by the reliability of Jemimah Rodrigues in the middle order.

The pace department also offered encouraging signs. Renuka Singh delivered four economical overs and claimed two wickets, combining effectively with Arundhati to account for six Australian scalps. The performance marked a refreshing shift for India, traditionally reliant on spinners like Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani.

For Australia, the defeat was both surprising and sobering. Under new captain Sophie Molineux, the hosts will be desperate to bounce back and level the series.

Australia’s formidable batting line-up, featuring stars such as Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, and Ashleigh Gardner, faltered unexpectedly in the opener. Six batters were dismissed for single-digit scores, with Georgia Wareham top-scoring with just 30.

Though wet conditions may have played a role, Australia, renowned for their dominance at home — will expect a far sharper display in the second T20I.

With the Women’s T20 World Cup in England later this year, this hard-fought series serves as vital preparation for both sides. A series-clinching win would give India a significant psychological edge over the world’s most successful women’s team.

Match starts: 1:45 PM IST