In the first ODI against the West Indies women’s team, India’s six-year wait was broken by Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal. Pratika Rawal, making her debut, made an impressive 40-run knock in the first game of the series.

The Indian women’s team is hosting the West Indies women for a three-match ODI series after winning the T20I series 2-1. The Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara is hosting the first game. Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, has returned to lead the Women in Blue in the opening ODI after missing the previous two T20Is due to injury.

Alongside Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal made her debut for India and opened the innings. With a partnership of 110 runs for the first wicket in just 23.2 overs, the pair handed India an incredible start. They recorded their first-century collaboration for the opening wicket on home soil since 2018, capping a six-year wait for India. 2018 was the last time Indian openers scored over 100 runs at home.

Remarkably, Smriti Mandhana also participated in that historic stance. She had reached the 100-run milestone for the first wicket against Australia, joining Jemimah Rodrigues. Against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2022, Mandhana and Shafali Verma also contributed 100 runs for the first wicket.

Pratika made a strong start in this ODI series after taking Shafali Verma’s place in the squad. She showed great promise even though she came very close to missing a well-earned half-century. Pratika made history by being the 150th player for India in women’s ODI cricket. She is a qualified psychologist and a cricket player.

Harleen Deol joined Mandhana at the crease following Pratika’s dismissal. India will aim to surpass the 300-run threshold and record a dominant score.

The second ODI will be played on Tuesday, December 24, at 1:30 PM IST, and the series will resume in Vadodara. The third and final match will begin at 9:30 AM on Friday, December 27.