India Elect to Bat First Against Australia in Crucial Second ODI at Hobart

Hobart, Feb 2026 : India won the toss and chose to bat first against Australia in the second One-Day International at the Bellerive Oval on Friday, setting the stage for a crucial encounter in a closely contested multi-format series. With Australia having edged India in the opening ODI at Brisbane, the overall multi-format scoreline now stands level at 4–4, adding extra significance to the Hobart clash.

India made a couple of notable changes to their playing combination, opting to rest opener Shafali Verma and frontline pacer Renuka Singh Thakur. In their place, Amanjot Kaur was drafted into the XI, while left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma was handed her ODI debut. The move reflects India’s intent to deepen their bowling resources, particularly on a surface expected to offer assistance to spinners as the match progresses.

A major boost for India came in the form of captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s return to full fitness. The skipper, who won her fifth consecutive toss in ODIs, had been sidelined during India’s entire fielding innings in the first match at Brisbane due to a left knee niggle. Speaking at the toss, Harmanpreet played down concerns about her fitness. “I’m fine now. While playing, I just felt a niggle in my left knee, but it’s all good,” she said, reassuring the team management and fans alike.

Australia, meanwhile, were forced into a solitary change. Nicola Carey, a Hobart local, was brought into the side in place of Sophie Molineux, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a lower back injury. Cricket Australia confirmed that Molineux’s condition will be closely monitored ahead of Australia’s tour of the West Indies next month.

The injury comes as a concern for Australia, given Molineux’s history with fitness issues and her impending role as full-time captain across all formats during the upcoming Caribbean tour. Despite the setback, Australian skipper Alyssa Healy sounded confident about her team’s chances, particularly with the ball early on. “Getting first crack with the ball on a wicket with a little bit of live grass might help us out,” Healy said. “If we get it right, we can restrict them. It’s not an easy place to defend scores, but we know what we need to do.”

The Hobart surface has traditionally offered something for both batters and bowlers, with early movement for seamers and value for shots once set. India’s decision to bat first suggests confidence in their top and middle order to put up a competitive total, while testing Australia’s bowling depth in the absence of Molineux.

With the series delicately poised and both sides fielding a blend of experience and fresh faces, the second ODI promises to be a defining contest. A win here would give either India or Australia a decisive edge in momentum as the multi-format battle intensifies.

Playing XIs

India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, N Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma

Australia: Alyssa Healy (captain), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown