3 major takeaways from India women's ODI series win vs New Zealand 2024

The Indian women's team secured a clinical ODI series victory over New Zealand on Tuesday (October 29). They successfully chased down the 233-run target with more than five overs to spare in the third ODI to seal the series 2-1. The series victory comes after India's disappointing group-stage exit from T20 World Cup.

The first fixture of the series saw the Women in Blue post 227 and successfully defend it to win by 59 runs. However, the White Ferns bounced back with a 76-run win in the second game to level the series.

In the final game, the visitors were bundled out for 232, which was certainly a competitive total. But Smriti Mandhana's stroke-filled century led India to a series victory.

On that note, let's take a look at key takeaways from India women's ODI series over New Zealand.

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#1 Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav are prized assets for India

Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Series for her contribution of 56 runs and six wickets. Her 41-run knock in the first game helped India post a fighting total and eventually win the game.

Deepti recently moved to No. 2 in the ODI bowling rankings, and rightfully justified her climb. The right-arm spinner claimed three wickets in the final ODI, while dismissing New Zealand's top-scorer Brooke Halliday.

Meanwhile, Radha Yadav was the finest bowler in the series with seven scalps to her name. The second fixture saw her return with four wickets and also contribute 48, albeit in a losing cause.

Radha plucked the most (5) catches in the series, with two coming in the second ODI. Her sensational catch broke a blossoming 87-run opening stand for New Zealand. A few overs later, she timed the jump perfectly to take a skier, and stunned the onlookers with her agility.

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#2 Contribution of one of the openers is necessary for team's win

The contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have always played a crucial role for the Indian team to post or chase a strong total.

In the first ODI, Smriti was dismissed for a score of 5. However, Shafali made sure to play her natural game and slam 33 off 22, with five fours and a six. As a result of a fine start, India posted 227 and managed to win the game.

Being asked to chase 260 in the second fixture, Shafali (11) and Smriti (0) failed to provide a good start to the Women in Blue. The middle-order crumbled under pressure and India were all-out for 183.

In the final game, Shafali started well by finding a couple of boundaries, but was dismissed soon on 12. Nevertheless, Smriti played a mature knock to steer the team at a comfortable rate. The southpaw hit her eighth ODI hundred, and got past Mithali Raj's record (7) of most centuries by an Indian player in this format.

The charismatic knock from Smriti helped the Indian team win the game and the series.

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#3 Indian fast bowlers need to pull their socks up to assist spinners

The Indian fast bowling unit failed to be potent enough in the ODI series against New Zealand.

In the first fixture, debutant Saima Thakor secured two wickets in the powerplay overs, but didn't get support from Renuka Singh, who returned with figures of 0/30 off seven overs. Meanwhile, Arundhati Reddy bowled six overs and picked up a solitary wicket. It was spinner Radha Yadav who did the most damage by taking three wickets in the game.

In the second fixture, visitors were off to a great start, as Thakor and Reddy couldn't do much to stop the run-flow. It was tweaker Deepti Sharma who broke the opening stand in the 16th over to open the floogates for the hosts. The spin unit bagged seven out of a total of eight wickets taken by the bowlers (one being a run-out).

The final game of the series saw Renuka and Saima pick up a single wicket apiece, as the spinners took a combined total of five wickets.

Clearly, the fast bowlers have lacked consistency in taking wickets and they need to catch up fast to join the spinners in wrapping up the opposition's innings quickly.