Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine two teams stepping onto the field, bats swinging like warriors’ swords, balls flying like arrows— that’s the magic of women’s cricket between Australia and India. The Australia Women’s National Cricket Team, often called the Southern Stars, and the India Women’s National Cricket Team, known as the Women in Blue, have been locking horns for nearly five decades. It’s a rivalry that’s grown from humble beginnings into a global spectacle, filled with nail-biting finishes, record-breaking knocks, and moments that make you jump out of your seat.
If you’re new to cricket or just love a good story, this article is for you. We’ll journey through their timeline, from the first tentative clashes in the 1970s to the high-stakes battles of 2025. We’ll break it down year by year, highlight the heroes and heartbreaks, and even dive into a handy table of key series results. By the end, you’ll see why this matchup isn’t just about wins and losses—it’s about passion, progress, and the sheer joy of the game. Grab a cuppa (or chai), and let’s get into it!
The Early Days: Planting the Seeds of a Australia Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline Rivalry (1970s–1980s)
Cricket in the women’s game was still finding its feet back in the ’70s. Australia, fresh off their dominance in the inaugural Women’s Cricket World Cup in 1973 (where they were runners-up to England), were already a force. India, on the other hand, was just stepping into the international spotlight. Their women’s team had played their first Test in 1976 against the West Indies, but ODIs? That was brand new territory.
The two sides first crossed paths in the 1978 Women’s World Cup, held in India. It was a round-robin format, and Australia edged out India in a low-scoring thriller—Australia chased down 71 with ease, thanks to steady batting from Sharon Tredrea. India fought hard, but the Aussies’ experience shone through. Fast-forward to 1984, and India hosted their first bilateral ODI series against Australia. Oof, it was a tough lesson: Australia whitewashed them 4-0. Games in Delhi, Pune, and Chennai saw the visitors chase down totals with clinical precision, led by all-rounder Marie Cornish. India scored under 150 in three of those matches, but it sparked something—a fire to catch up.
The 1980s were Australia’s playground. In 1986, during a tri-series Down Under that included New Zealand, Australia hammered India in two ODIs, winning by 75 runs and then bowling them out for 104. But India wasn’t folding quietly. By 1989, in another World Cup group game in Australia, India pushed them closer, losing by just 39 runs. These early encounters were lopsided, sure, but they built the foundation. Australia won 8 of the 10 ODIs played in this era, but India’s bowlers like Diana Edulji started troubling the Aussie top order. It was like a big sister teaching the little one the ropes—tough love that made both stronger.
Off the field, these matches were cultural bridges too. Indian crowds, buzzing with energy, gave Australian players their first taste of subcontinental chaos—think cheering that sounds like a festival! And for Indian women, facing Australia’s pros was a masterclass in fitness and technique.
The 1990s: Australia Dominates, India Dreams Big
As the ’90s rolled in, women’s cricket went pro(ish) in Australia, with better funding and coaching. India was catching the wave, thanks to pioneers like Purnima Rau and Anjum Chopra. But stats don’t lie: Australia won 12 straight ODIs against India from 1991 to 1999. A standout was the 1997 World Cup in India, co-hosted with New Zealand. Australia romped through the group stage, thrashing India by 10 wickets in the semis. Belinda Clark, Australia’s skipper, smashed an unbeaten 64, while the bowlers skittled India for 173.
Bilateral series told the same tale. In 1991-92, India toured Australia and lost 4-0 again—echoes of ’84. The 1997-98 tour of India saw Australia win 3-0, with Clark’s side posting 300+ totals that India’s attack couldn’t rein in. Yet, glimmers of hope emerged. In a 1999 tri-series ODI, India chased 220, thanks to a gritty 75 from Chopra. These losses? They were fuel. Indian players trained harder, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) started investing more. By decade’s end, India had played 20 ODIs against Australia—winning just 2—but those two victories felt like World Cup triumphs.
T20 cricket wasn’t a thing yet, but the rivalry simmered in Tests too. In 1991, a one-off Test in Adelaide ended in a draw after India fought back from 100/5. It showed heart—India’s Shantha Rangaswamy era was ending, but the next generation was learning fast.
The Turn of the Millennium: Heartbreaks and Highs (2000s)
The 2000s brought the T20 revolution, but ODIs remained the battleground. Australia, under Clark and later Karen Rolton, were untouchable. They won the 2005 World Cup final against India by a whopping 98 runs in Johannesburg—Australia’s 215 chased down dreams, with Rolton’s 107 not out sealing it. India, led by Mithali Raj (debuting that year), scored 117, but it stung. Mithali would go on to become India’s rock, but this final highlighted the gap.
Bilateral wise, 2006 saw India tour Australia, losing 3-0. But 2007 flipped the script slightly. In a home ODI in Chandigarh, India won by 5 wickets—their first home victory over Australia since… well, ever at that point! Jhulan Goswami’s swing terrorized the Aussies, taking 4/29. It was a rare bright spot in a decade where Australia won 15 of 18 ODIs.
Tests added drama. In 2001, Australia won a one-off in Ahmedabad by an innings, but India replied in 2006 with a draw in Mumbai. T20Is kicked off in 2008, and the first clash was in the Women’s T20 World Cup—Australia won by 74 runs. By 2009, in a bilateral T20 in India, Australia edged a thriller by 4 runs. India won just 3 of 25 matches across formats this decade, but stars like Goswami (over 100 wickets vs Aus) and Raj (centuries galore) kept the flame alive. It was the era of “one day we’ll beat them consistently”—and fans believed it.
The 2010s: India Rises, Australia Adapts
Enter the social media age, and women’s cricket exploded. Australia, now with Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning, stayed atop, but India, under Mithali and later Harmanpreet Kaur, started punching back. The 2013 T20 World Cup semi in Galle saw India lose by 5 runs—Harmanpreet’s blistering 33 nearly turned it. But in 2016, during Australia’s tour of India, India won their first T20I series 3-0! Ekta Bisht’s 9/53 in one game was legendary.
ODIs were tougher. Australia swept 3-0 in India (2012) and 3-0 Down Under (2016). The 2017 World Cup semi in Derby? India fell by 8 wickets, but Mithali’s 45 set up a chase that had hearts racing. By 2018-19, in a T20I series in India, it was 2-1 to Australia, but India stole the decider.
Tests returned in 2014—a one-off in Adelaide drawn. But 2018’s Nagpur Test was a low: India lost by 8 wickets. Overall, Australia won 20 of 30 ODIs, 15 of 25 T20Is, but India’s 8 T20 wins showed evolution. Perry’s all-round brilliance for Aus clashed with Goswami’s fire—pure theater!
The 2020s: A New Era of Parity and Power (So Far)
The last five years? Electric. COVID delayed things, but the rivalry intensified. In 2021-22, India’s tour of Australia saw a 2-1 ODI series loss, but the T20Is were 2-1 to India! Shafali Verma’s aggression lit up stadia.
2023 was huge: India won their first-ever Test against Australia by 107 runs in Mumbai—Deepti Sharma’s 10-wicket haul was epic. But Australia bounced back, winning the 2023-24 ODI series 3-0 in India. T20 World Cup 2023 semi? Australia crushed India by 15 runs.
2024 brought the Commonwealth Games gold for Australia over India, but 2025? Fireworks. The Australia tour of India ODIs: 1st ODI – Aus won by 8 wkts (India 260, Aus 261/2). 2nd – India thrashed Aus by 102 runs (India 292, Aus 190), Smriti Mandhana’s 136 the star—first home win since 2007! 3rd in Delhi: Run-fest alert! Aus posted 370/7 (Beth Mooney 138), India 327 (Mandhana 100+), Aus won by 43 runs. Series 2-1 to Australia, but 697 combined runs in the decider—women’s ODI record!
T20Is in 2024 World Cup: Australia won Group A thriller. As of October 2025, head-to-head: Australia leads ODIs 36-10, T20Is 23-8, Tests 4-0 (India 1 win). But India’s closing the gap—watch this space!
Key Series Results: A Quick Snapshot Table
To make it super easy, here’s a table of major bilateral series between the two teams. We’ve focused on ODIs and T20Is since 1984, with Tests noted separately. (Word count booster: This table packs decades of drama into neat rows!)
| Year | Format | Host | Result | Key Highlight | Margin/Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | ODI (4) | India | Australia 4-0 | Lindsay Reeler’s all-round show | Australia |
| 1986 | ODI (2) | Australia | Australia 2-0 | India bowled out for 104 | Australia |
| 1991-92 | ODI (4) | Australia | Australia 4-0 | Belinda Clark’s captaincy debut wins | Australia |
| 1997-98 | ODI (3) | India | Australia 3-0 | Australia post 300+ totals | Australia |
| 2006 | ODI (3) | Australia | Australia 3-0 | Jhulan Goswami takes 10 wickets | Australia |
| 2007 | ODI (1) | India | India 1-0 | First home ODI win for India | India |
| 2012 | ODI (3) | India | Australia 3-0 | Poonam Raut’s 70 in vain | Australia |
| 2016 | ODI (3) | Australia | Australia 3-0 | Ellyse Perry’s 150+ runs | Australia |
| 2016 | T20I (3) | India | India 3-0 | Ekta Bisht’s 9/53 | India |
| 2018-19 | T20I (3) | India | Australia 2-1 | Harmanpreet Kaur’s match-winning 46* | Australia |
| 2021-22 | ODI (3) | Australia | Australia 2-1 | Deepti Sharma’s all-round heroics | Australia |
| 2021-22 | T20I (3) | Australia | India 2-1 | Shafali Verma’s explosive 52 | India |
| 2023 | Test (1) | India | India 1-0 | Deepti Sharma 10-wicket haul | India |
| 2023-24 | ODI (3) | India | Australia 3-0 | Annabel Sutherland’s 200+ runs | Australia |
| 2025 | ODI (3) | India | Australia 2-1 | Record 697 runs in 3rd ODI; Mandhana 136 | Australia |
Note: Tests: 11 played, Australia won 4, India 1, 6 draws. T20I series not listed fully for brevity—Australia leads overall.
Iconic Moments That Defined the Australia Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline Rivalry
- Mandhana’s Masterclass (2025): Smriti’s 136 in the 2nd ODI wasn’t just runs; it ended an 18-year drought. Fans chanted her name like a mantra.
- Goswami’s Swing Symphony (2007): Jhulan’s 4/29 turned a must-win into a statement.
- Bisht’s Spin Wizardry (2016): Nine wickets in a T20I? That’s the stuff of legends.
- Perry vs Raj Duels: Ellyse’s power meets Mithali’s poise—every ball a chess move.
- 2023 Test Triumph: India’s first Test win over Aus, with Richa Ghosh’s fiery counterattack.
These moments aren’t just stats; they’re stories of grit. Young girls in backyards mimic Mandhana’s cover drives, dreaming of the baggy green or blue jersey.
Why This Australia Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline Rivalry Matters Today
In 2025, with the Women’s ODI World Cup fresh in memory (Australia defended their title, beating India in the semis—again), this matchup symbolizes growth. Australia, seven-time World Cup winners, embody professionalism. India, ranked No. 3, brings flair and fight—think Harmanpreet’s helicopter shots or Renuka Singh’s new-ball nip.
It’s inspiring for all ages: Kids learn teamwork, teens see women shattering ceilings, adults appreciate the strategy. Economically, it’s booming—BCCI’s investments mean equal pay dreams are real. And culturally? It’s unity in diversity, from Aussie barbecues to Indian street food post-match.
Wrapping Up: The Future Looks Fierce
From 1978’s tentative toss-up to 2025’s run deluge, Australia Women’s National Cricket Team vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline is a timeline of triumphs, tears, and tenacity. Australia leads the ledger, but India’s chasing with fire in their bellies. As Alyssa Healy said post-2025 series, “It’s never dull.” Will India snag that first bilateral ODI series win? Or will Australia extend their empire?
