IND Women vs IRE Women, 3rd ODI at Rajkot, IND Women vs IRE Women, Jan 15 2025 - Match Result

Mandhana hops across and collects the trophy from Mr Niranjan Shah and hands it over to Sayali Satghare, who is in the middle of the Indian team lined up for the winner's photo. Jemimah Rodrigues takes a selfie with all smiles in the Indian camp. That will be it from us today. Thank You for tuning in. In case you missed any of the action, Hemant's report will be in soon. Do have read. Till then, on behalf of Hemant, Ranjith, Vairavan and myself Ashish, it is a goodbye. Ciao!

Here's the India captain, Smriti Mandhana: [Positives] I am really pleased that all the girls got game time. The 100s and the 50s from the batters have been great. Really happy for Jemi, Harleen, Pratika, Richa. And then the bowlers executed what was planned. [Near-perfect game?] Except for my drop catch, it was a near-perfect game. Winning the toss, going to bat and getting 400+ was great. The way Richa and Pratika batted was great. That the bowlers finished it off in the 31st over, was superb. [Her attacking from the get-go] It was planned. I was just thinking not many matches you can go out and attack. So, I thought of trying a few shots. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn't. Today it did. [World Cup year. Things to work on?] There are so many things. As much as we want to enjoy this victory, we want to sit down and be in the loop for the World Cup. We need to work on the fielding and running between the wickets. Fifty overs, 300 balls, these two things will be critical. If we are good in these two departments, we can do something special.

Pratika Rawal is the player of the match and series: it is a good start to the January season. I am very happy. [Experience] Always good to score runs and do it for the country is going to boost my confidence. Happy with my performance. [100 moment] I just had the celebration in my mind when I kiss the helmet, and I was visualizing that. I just wanted to do that. [On Mandhana]: It looks so easy when she bats. I don't mind taking a backseat when she bats. It is a treat.

First up, Ireland captain Gaby Lewis: [Takeaways] Our first time for a couple of people playing in India. The experience with the people, and the noise was great. It's been great. A lot of learnings for the girls coming up against world-class players. It was a great show they put up today and it was great to watch. [Qualifiers next, gameplan?] Just generally consistency with the ball and bat. Some positives to take. Different players showed up, and showed the depth in the group.

Presentations in a bit

Amol Muzumdar, India head coach: We had a back-to-back series, WI and IRE. Plenty of positives form both series. It has been a well-fought series and plenty of positives. [Search for a fast bowler] It has always been there. At the same time, the batting looks settled. We would love to have another fast bowler. [400 target a plan?] No, not all. We don't set targets. We go as per the flow of the game. It has been fantastic to see some records set in these last 12 months. Pretty satisfying, but at the same time we continue the process. [On Rawal] She is a breath of fresh air. Top of the order with Smriti. Calm, composed and she looks settled at international level. Hope she continues. [Ghosh at No. 3] When we had a decent start, 20 overs into the game, it was important to give Richa some game time. We have seen Harleen getting a hundred, Jemi some game time. So, we thought giving Richa some game time was important.

Deepti Sharma: Thank You. It feels great to be leading a bowling unit. That is a challenge, and I love taking on challenges. The mindset remains the same, that doesn't change. [Bowling] In the second half the wicket was slower and was getting some turn. I assessed the wickets and bowled that way. I am always there to help the juniors and the younger bowlers. [On fielding] I just focus on practice, and whatever areas are there I follow that. Next up, WPL, that is the focus.

5.18pm A dominating show caps off India's 3-0 series win. Ireland were never going to threaten the 436-run target but they simply capitulated after a 64-run stand for the third wicket and lost their last seven wickets in just 31 runs. India were clinical all through with the ball. Deepti was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27 while Tanuja Kanwar picked two wickets. Each of Titas Sadhu, Sayali Satghare and Minnu Mani also picked a wicket each while two run outs did not help Ireland. Eventually, they were bowled out for 131 in 31.4 overs. But the day belonged to Pratika Rawal, who smashed her maiden ODI century finishing with 154 off 129 balls and Smriti Mandhana who crashed 135 off 80.

A catching short midwicket in place

Sargent in at No. 11

Venkat : "Will this be a win for India with a big margin " --- Yes, heading towards that. Their biggest win at the moment is by 249 runs, also against Ireland.

Thanks, Ashish. Only formalities are left now.

Drinks and it is time for Hemant to step in for a bit