India Women to host Australia for 5-match T20I series

T20 world champions Australia will square off with Harmanpreet Kaur-led India women in a five-match T20 series in Mumbai from December 9 to 20, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced on Friday. The series will be important as it is the precursor to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa, starting in early February. The five matches will be played on December 9, 11, 14, 17, and 20.

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Earlier this year, in May, the tour was announced, but other details weren't fixed. The timings of the five matches are yet to be decided. The upcoming white-ball games are expected to give enough practice to the Indian and Australian teams ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup.

The Indian women's team won their eighth Asia Cup title after beating Sri Lanka in the final at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The Australian cricketers are currently busy taking part in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) on home soil.

India Women and Australia Women last locked horns in the final of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The Aussies, led by Meg Lanning, won the game by nine runs to win the gold medal.

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Earlier, Lanning took an indefinite break from cricket and it's not known if she will be a part of the series in India. If the veteran doesn't return, Australia may have to name a new skipper.

Back in October, Alyssa Healy was named as the team's new vice-captain after Rachael Haynes retired from international cricket.