: AUS-W vs IND-W Dream11 Prediction: Expert fantasy cricket tips for the 1st T20I at the SCG. Pitch report, head-to-head stats, and verified playing XIs for 2026.
Introduction
The pinnacle of women’s cricket returns as Australia Women (AUS-W) host the newly-crowned ODI World Champions, India Women (IND-W), in the opening T20I of a high-stakes multi-format series. Taking place at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), this match sets the tone for a points-based contest that concludes the Australian summer. While Australia sits at World No. 1, India enters with massive momentum after a 5-0 sweep of Sri Lanka and a historic World Cup campaign. For fantasy managers, this is a clash of titans where tactical substitutions and “Powerplay impact” will decide the winners.
Data Suite: Multi-Table Analytics
Match Info
| Feature | Details |
| Teams | Australia Women vs India Women |
| Venue | Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney |
| Date & Time | February 15, 2026 |
| Format | T20 International (1st of 3) |
| Broadcast | Live Streaming & Telecast available in India |
Pitch Report
The SCG surface typically assists pace bowlers initially with good bounce and seam movement. However, it remains a balanced track where batters can excel once settled.
- Average 1st Innings Score: 150–166.
- Average 2nd Innings Score: 135.
- Fantasy Impact: Pace accounts for 63.3% of wickets at this venue. Batting generally becomes easier in the second innings, making the “Chasing Record” vital for captaincy picks.
Weather Update
- Temperature: 29–32°C.
- Condition: Humid and cloudy.
- Rain %: 40% chance of interruption.
- Impact: High humidity may assist swing bowlers like Renuka Singh Thakur early on.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Form
| Team | H2H Wins (T20I) | Recent Form (T20Is) |
| Australia | 26 | W, W, W, W, W |
| India | 7 | W, W, W, W, W |
- Total Played: 35 | Tied: 1 | No Result: 1.
- Top H2H Performer: Ellyse Perry (55* and 4-12 at this venue vs India in 2016).
Probable Playing XI
Australia Women
Beth Mooney (WK), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Grace Harris, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (C), Georgia Wareham, Darcie Brown, Megan Schutt.
India Women
Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Vaishnavi Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur.
Dream11 Prediction Section
Expert’s Verdict
Captaincy Pick: Smriti Mandhana. She topped the WPL 2026 scoring charts and enters this series with back-to-back half-centuries. Her “Boundary clearing ability” is elite at the SCG.
Vice-Captaincy Pick: Annabel Sutherland. A genuine “Death-over specialist” with the ball who can also provide explosive lower-order runs.
| Category | Players |
| Must-Have | Beth Mooney, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Ellyse Perry |
| Budget Picks | Shreyanka Patil (8.0 Cr), Georgia Wareham (8.0 Cr) |
| Risky Diff | Phoebe Litchfield (High ceiling, attacking 22-year-old) |
Key Player Analysis
- Deepti Sharma (IND): The world’s leading T20I wicket-taker (152 wickets) and the 2025 ODI World Cup Player of the Tournament.
- Beth Mooney (AUS): Needs just 25 runs to become Australia’s all-time leading T20I run-scorer.
- Renuka Singh Thakur (IND): Her early “Powerplay impact” with the swinging ball is India’s best weapon against the Aussie top order.
Match Prediction
Win Probability: Australia 55% | India 45%
While Australia is unbeaten in T20Is at the SCG (4-0), India’s newfound confidence as ODI World Champions makes them extremely dangerous. Expect a high-scoring thriller where the “Economy rate” of spinners like Sophie Molineux could be the tie-breaker.
Final Balanced Dream11 Team
- WK: Beth Mooney
- BAT: Smriti Mandhana (C), Phoebe Litchfield, Harmanpreet Kaur, Ellyse Perry (VC)
- ALL: Annabel Sutherland, Deepti Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner
- BOWL: Renuka Singh Thakur, Georgia Wareham, Shreyanka Patil
FAQs
- Who will win AUS-W vs IND-W 1st T20I? Australia are favorites at home, but India’s form makes it a 50/50 contest.
- What is the pitch behavior at SCG? Pace-friendly initially, becoming better for batting in the second innings.
- Is Ellyse Perry a good captain choice? Yes, she has a legendary record at the SCG against India.
- Who are the key returnees for India? Shreyanka Patil and Bharti Fulmali return to the squad.
- What is the weather forecast? Humid with a 40% chance of rain.
- How many T20Is have India won against Australia? 7 wins out of 35 matches.
