'Didn’t want to go back to defensive cricket' - Harmanpreet Kaur after India's historic red-ball triumph against Australia

India’s victory against Australia in the only Test at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was powered by an aggressive strategy, stated Harmanpreet Kaur. India clinched an eight-wicket win on December 24, which marked their first Women’s Test victory over Australia since 1977.

Kaur emphasised on an assertive gameplay that steered India towards a historic triumph, as it displayed a promising shift in their cricketing approach. Notably, India elevated Richa Ghosh to No. 3, a decision attributed to their winning edge. Ghosh, debuting due to Shubha Satheesh's injury from the England Test, played a pivotal role. 

“Reward for all the hard work we have done for so many years. Credit to the team and the support staff. Reward for the hard work and patience. We just wanted to play positive cricket, and that is why we wanted to put Richa Ghosh at no.3. We did not want to go back to defensive cricket and everyone knows how Richa plays. We just wanted to stick to the basics and do the right task,” Harmanpreet said after the match.

India Women halt Australia's Test cricket hegemony 

The Indian women’s cricket team secured a momentous maiden Test win over Australia and Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, and Deepti Sharma emerged as pivotal contributors in the monumental victory. On the decisive Day 4, India contained Australia to 261 runs before chasing a modest 75-run target with eight wickets left in the bank. Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues steered India to a remarkable win in just 18.4 overs.

Australia's first innings saw a subdued performance as they amassed a mere 219 runs in 77.4 overs, with Tahlia McGrath leading the charge with 50 runs. India’s bowling prowess shone brightly, led by Pooja Vastrakar’s four wickets, supported by Sneh Rana's three and Deepti Sharma's two crucial dismissals.

India’s batting skills were on full display as Smriti Mandhana (74), Jemimah Rodrigues (73), and Deepti Sharma (78) powered India to a commanding total of 406 runs against Australia. The victory marked a watershed moment in the history of Indian women's cricket, and signalled a new era of dominance on the Test stage.