India Women lead the three-match T20I series 1-0 heading into the second game at Manuka Oval in Canberra on February 19, 2026. The opening match at Sydney’s Cricket Ground ended in India’s favour by 21 runs via the DLS method after rain curtailed proceedings. Arundhati Reddy took a career-best 4/22 to bowl Australia out for 133 in 18 overs, and India were well ahead of the DLS target at 50/1 in 5.1 overs when the game was called off.
Australia captain Sophie Molineux leads the side for the first time in this series, taking over from the retired Alyssa Healy, and they will need to regroup sharply in Canberra to keep the series alive. A win in the 2nd T20I puts India on the cusp of a historic first bilateral T20I series win on Australian soil.
India Women vs Australia Women 2nd T20I Match Preview
India arrives at Canberra in excellent form. Their bowling attack, led by Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh Thakur, was exceptional in Sydney, taking full advantage of helpful conditions and bundling Australia out cheaply. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a flying start in the chase before rain ended the game. Australia, on the other hand, struggled badly with the bat in the first game.
Their top order fell cheaply, and only Georgia Wareham’s 30 at No. 6 gave their innings any substance. The omission of vice-captain Tahlia McGrath was a big call by the new captain, and the question of the batting order is a key talking point ahead of this game. Australia will know that another poor batting performance could hand India the series, and Manuka Oval will need to see its best cricket.
This series also carries wider significance. Both teams are building squads ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in England and Wales in June-July. Australia is ranked No. 1 in women’s T20I cricket, while India sits at No. 3. The series, therefore, gives India a chance to close that gap and also claim a rare series win in Australia.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India Women vs Australia Women, 2nd T20I |
| Date | 19 February 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM Local / 1:45 PM IST |
| Venue | Manuka Oval, Canberra |
| Series | India Women’s tour of Australia 2026 |
| Series Status | India lead 1-0 (3-match T20I series) |
Pitch Report
Manuka Oval in Canberra is one of Australia’s more balanced T20 venues. The pitch offers true bounce and good pace, which rewards batters who play their shots early. Seamers with the new ball can get some movement in the first few overs, especially in the cool Canberra evening air. As the game progresses, the pitch slows down gradually, and spinners can extract some turn, particularly in the middle overs.
The average first-innings T20I score at this ground is around 148-153. The highest total at the venue is 195, scored by South Africa Women. Teams batting first have won roughly as often as teams chasing, making it a closely contested venue. This game being a night fixture means the cool conditions will favour seamers early, and then spin could play a role in the second half. The quick outfield at Manuka Oval means good shots get rewarded with boundaries, and the boundaries sit at around 65-80 metres.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced, good pace and bounce for pacers, some spin later |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 148-153 in T20Is |
| Highest T20I Total | 195 (South Africa Women) |
| Batting vs Bowling | Even contest; 9 wins each batting first and chasing |
| Boundary Dimensions | Straight: ~80m, Square: ~65m |
Weather Report
February is a warm month in Canberra, with temperatures typically between 14°C and 30°C during the day. However, Canberra is known for its cool evenings, and by 7 PM, when the match starts, temperatures will drop noticeably. Evening conditions in Canberra are typically around 18-22°C at match time in February.
There is a chance of some cloud cover on the evening of February 19, and rain cannot be completely ruled out, given that the previous match in Sydney was also affected. However, the chance of significant rain in Canberra on this date is relatively low. Players will feel the cool Canberra air during the second innings, which can help seamers with swing.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 18-22°C at match time |
| Sky | Partly cloudy, some clouds possible |
| Rain Chance | Low to moderate; some risk |
| Humidity | 50-60% |
| Conditions | Cool evening, helpful for swing bowlers |
Toss Prediction
At Manuka Oval in evening matches, the Canberra chill can help seamers get early movement. Dew is not as significant a factor here as it is in subcontinental venues, so the toss decision becomes more about the pitch conditions than dew. Given that the pitch tends to be best for batting in the first innings with a fresh surface, and that Australia will want to put their batting issues from the first game behind them with a strong score, the team winning the toss may lean towards batting first. India, however, showed in Sydney that bowling first suits their current attack well. This is one of the closer toss calls of the series.
Team Form and Injury Updates
India Women: India are in their best form at the right time and have no injury concerns going into this match.
Australia Women: No Injury Concern.
Dream11 Team For IND-W vs AUS-W 2nd T20I
India Women vs Australia Women Head-to-Head Records in T20Is
Australia has a dominant record over India in women’s T20 Internationals going into this series.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Meetings | 36 (including this series) |
| Australia Wins | 26 |
| India Wins | 8 (most recent win in 1st T20I this series) |
| Ties / No Results | 1 tie, 1 no result |
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | IND-W | Opener | Unbeaten 16 with back-to-back fours in 1st T20I chase, superb form in WPL (377 runs in 9 innings) |
| Shafali Verma | IND-W | Opener | Explosive 21 off 11 balls with 2 sixes vs Australia in 1st T20I |
| Renuka Singh Thakur | IND-W | Bowler | 2/14 in 4 overs in 1st T20I, outstanding powerplay bowler |
| Beth Mooney | AUS-W | Wicketkeeper-Opener | Manuka Oval specialist: 400 runs here at average of 100, strike rate of 133.77 |
| Phoebe Litchfield | AUS-W | Opener | Top scorer in powerplay for Australia in 1st T20I with 26, dangerous on fresh surfaces |
| Georgia Wareham | AUS-W | Bowler/Batter | Top scorer for Australia in 1st T20I (30), useful leg-spin option in middle overs |
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