The AUSW vs INDW 2nd T20I 2026 promises a thrilling contest as Australia Women take on India Women at Manuka Oval, Canberra. India currently lead the three-match series 1-0 after a rain-affected opener in Sydney. With Australia desperate to bounce back and India aiming to seal the series, this clash under lights is expected to be a high-intensity battle.
Match Details
| Match: | AUSW vs INDW, 2nd T20I |
| Series: | India Women tour of Australia, 2026 |
| Date & Time: | 7:15 PM Local | 8:15 AM GMT |
| Venue: | Manuka Oval |
| Capacity: | 13,550 |
| Ends: | Pool End & Mall End |
| Streaming (India): | JioHotstar |
| TV (India): | Star Sports Network |
Image Credit: AI-generated promotional graphic for Australia Women vs India Women 2nd T20I 2026
Series So Far
India grabbed a 1-0 advantage in Sydney after a dramatic, rain-marred contest. Australia suffered a shocking batting collapse, and just as Indian openers began dominating the chase, persistent rain sealed the result in the visitors’ favour.
However, Canberra presents a different challenge. Unlike the SCG, Manuka Oval is known to be more batting-friendly and often assists chasing teams. With conditions expected to be clear, both sides should get a full game to showcase their strengths.
Australia Women: Bounce-Back Mode
Australia, led by skipper Sophie Molineux, will be eager to level the series. The batting lineup, featuring experienced stars like Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, and dynamic all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, is too strong to falter twice in a row.
Young talents such as Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll add aggression at the top, while bowlers like Darcie Brown and Megan Schutt provide pace and swing.
Australia’s strength lies in their depth — from explosive finishers like Grace Harris to dependable all-rounders like Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Wareham.
Expect the hosts to come hard, especially with the series on the line.
Australia Women Squad
India Women: Momentum on Their Side
Under captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India will look to seal the series with another strong performance. The openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma showed aggressive intent in the first match before rain intervened.
The middle order boasts reliability and flair with Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh.
India’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Renuka Singh Thakur, will be crucial on a surface that can assist pacers early on. All-round options like Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur add depth and flexibility.
With confidence high and momentum in their favour, India will aim to stay composed against an aggressive Australian response.
India Women Squad
Venue Watch – Manuka Oval, Canberra
Manuka Oval is traditionally known as a balanced yet chase-friendly ground. Teams batting second often enjoy better rhythm under lights. The average first-innings score hovers around competitive T20 totals, but dew and pitch flattening can influence the latter half.
Key Factors:
- Toss could be decisive
- Even bounce aiding stroke play
- New-ball swing early on
- Spin may come into play in middle overs
Key Battles to Watch
- Smriti Mandhana vs Megan Schutt – Early swing battle
- Ellyse Perry vs Deepti Sharma – Experience vs control
- Ashleigh Gardner vs Indian middle order – Spin in middle overs
What to Expect
Australia are wounded but dangerous. India are confident but cautious. With clear skies predicted in Canberra, fans can expect a high-quality contest between two powerhouses of women’s cricket.
If Australia win, the series heads to a thrilling decider. If India triumph, they clinch the series 2-0.
One thing is certain — expect intensity, tactical battles, and big moments under the lights at Manuka Oval.