Brace yourselves for a historic showdown as the newly crowned World Champions, India Women, land on Australian soil to face the most dominant force in women's cricket history. The 1st WT20I of this multi-format series kicks off on February 15, 2026, at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
This tour is laden with emotion and high stakes: it serves as the farewell series for Australian legend Alyssa Healy, while India arrives with the momentum of their 2025 World Cup triumph. With the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 just months away, this series opener is the ultimate litmus test for both sides. You can watch every moment of this heavyweight clash live on Willow by Cricbuzz.
Head-to-Head: The Rivalry of the Decade Australia has historically held the upper hand, but the tide is turning. India famously knocked Australia out in the 2025 World Cup semi-finals, ending their streak of global dominance.
Total T20Is: 35
Australia Wins: 26
India Wins: 7
Recent Encounter: India won by 5 wickets (2025 World Cup Semi-Final).
Last Bilateral Series: Australia won 2-1 in India (January 2024).
Team Form & Recent Results India Women (W-W-W-W-W) The "Women in Blue" are in the form of their lives. After a historic World Cup victory, they recently swept Sri Lanka 5-0 in a T20I series, showcasing a terrifying blend of youth and experience.
Series: Defeated Sri Lanka 5-0 (Jan 2026).
World Cup: 2025 Champions (Defeated South Africa in the Final).
Training: Just completed a high-intensity camp in Sydney under new S&C coach Nicholas Lee.
Australia Women (W-W-L-W-W) The Aussies are in a transition phase but remain a "factory of talent." Under the new T20I captaincy of Sophie Molineux, they are hunting for revenge against the team that took their world crown.
Captaincy: Sophie Molineux takes the reins for the T20Is; Alyssa Healy will lead for the ODIs/Test before retiring.
Recent: Defeated England and South Africa in late 2025.
Players in Focus Harmanpreet Kaur (India): The World Cup-winning captain. Her leadership and ability to dominate big games make her the primary target for the Australian bowlers.
Sophie Molineux (Australia): The new T20I skipper. A world-class left-arm spinner, she will be looking to lead from the front on a spin-friendly SCG track.
Smriti Mandhana (India): Fresh off a stellar WPL campaign, the vice-captain's elegant stroke play will be vital in navigating the Australian new-ball attack.
Beth Mooney (Australia): A leading candidate for the Belinda Clark Award (to be announced during this match). Her consistency at the top is Australia's greatest insurance policy.