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Another series one home soil in the bag as India begin 2025 in grand style. Ireland have certainly put up a fight, particularly on the batting front, but as expected, India have been a bit too powerful for them so far.
The Irish bowlers were subject to a serious onslaught in the second one-dayer on Sunday as India whipped up their highest ever ODI total of 370. Thereafter, the visitors just went through the motions in their chase but having recorded their own highest total against India to date, there were positives to take out from that contest.
It was something that skipper Gaby Lewis recognized herself after the game even as she couldn't leave her mark that day. Christina Coulter Reilly, promoted up to number 3, showcased her prowess having used her feet and swept the ball at will. Laura Delany and Leah Paul chipped in with brisk cameos of their own and if Lewis can set the tone early on alongside Sarah Forbes, Ireland will believe that this batting unit is indeed coming together for special things in the year ahead.
Of course, the icing on the cake would be Orla Prendergast hitting form. The star all-rounder has been starved of runs and while she has conceded runs at an expensive economy rate thus far but if she joins the party, it could just spur the rest of her teammates on as well. Arlene Kelly, meanwhile, has been enterprising with her lower-order hitting.
It remains to be seen if Ireland bring Una Raymond-Hoey back into the XI while the experienced Rebecca Stokell is also awaiting a turn. Aimee Maguire impressed in the series opener but was left ouf as soon as she was reported for a suspect bowling action and hence, chances of her featuring on Wednesday look bleak. The rest of the bowlers have blown hot and cold and should the pitch aid turn, majority of the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of young Freya Sargent.
In contrast, India's attack boasts of a lot more variety with the spin duo of Deepti Sharma and Priya Mishra performing superbly so far. The seam bowlers have done their job too with first-timer Sayali Sathgare's accuracy standing out while Titas Sadhu and Saima Thakor have fared well too.
Minnu Mani and Tanuja Kanwer are the options on the bench waiting for an opportunity and one of the seamers plus Mishra could well make way as a result. It remains to be seen if India find a way to fit Uma Chetry and Raghvi Bist in considering that this top four of Pratika Rawal, skipper Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues is taking good shape and hence, they would want to stick with them and give them another full outing. A promotion for Richa Ghosh could well be on the cards as well.
Experimentation could well be the order of the day though for the Women in Blue. And whichever way they go, they will begin this game as overwhelming favorites again. Ireland have shown spunk, but they need a whole lot more to challenge the might of the Indians.
If they can put together a more collective display on Wednesday though, they could be onto something. Can they produce that result they've been after all series and sign off from the tour on a high?