Major blow for India! Captain skips fielding after knee injury, doubt over next match
Times of India
by TOI SPORTS DESKFebruary 24, 2026
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India’s cricket team faced a significant challenge during their first ODI against Australia in Brisbane as captain Harmanpreet Kaur sustained a knee injury while batting. The injury forced her to skip fielding in the second innings, with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana stepping up to lead the team. Despite Kaur’s strong performance, scoring 53 runs and forming crucial partnerships, India was restricted to 214 runs. Australia comfortably chased the target, securing a six-wicket victory led by Alyssa Healy (50) and Beth Mooney (76), who was named Player of the Match.
The match marked India’s first loss in the three-match series, putting them under pressure heading into the next ODI in Hobart. This defeat follows their recent T20I series win against Australia, adding to the significance of Kaur’s fitness for future games. Harmanpreet’s leadership and batting prowess are pivotal to India’s success, making her recovery a key focus as the team aims to maintain their competitive edge.
In an eventful match, Annabel Sutherland’s unbeaten 48 and Ashleigh Gardner’s three-wicket haul highlighted Australia
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/24/2026