In their first ODI since winning the World Cup in November, the Indian women's team found Australia too hot to handle, losing the first match by six wickets in Brisbane on Tuesday (February 24). India lost their batting lineup as a result of Harmanpreet Kaur's decision to bat first after winning the toss because of the extra bounce at the Allan Border Field. After suffering an ankle injury that put an early end to her World Cup campaign, Pratika Rawal returned to the game but was caught in front by Megan Schutt for a duck. Shafali Verma, who came in at number three, didn't stand out, and Jemimah Rodrigues also fell short, leaving India in trouble at 52 for 3. Smriti Mandhana, who struck a 68-ball 58 and shared a 48-run partnership with her captain for the fourth wicket, was to blame for India's continued success. However, India lost their bearings after Mandhana's wicket, when she aerially swept Tahlia McGrath only to pick out deep backward square leg. After Deepti Sharma's death, Australia's spinners, especially Alana King, got the ball to grip and turn, and the scoring rate remained low. Even though she was battling a left knee injury, Harmanpreet took 79 balls to reach her fifty, and Richa Ghosh, who was 23 years old, was unable to get going. India's surprise package was Kashvee Gautam, who scored 43 runs with three fours and sixes in one over. In the midst of all of this, Kranti Gaud had her bat stuck into the ground while turning back from a run that didn't exist in the 45th over, a moment that would have brought back harrowing memories of the T20 World Cup in 2024. It turned out that she almost got away, but Ashleigh Gardner got a three-fer when she left immediately after her. With her direct hit, Gardner also contributed to the final wicket, catching Kashvee short as India were bowled out for 214 with eight deliveries remaining in the innings. With India's new ball pacers unable to make an impact, Australia responded with a 55-run opening stand between captain Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield. Shree Charani scored a hat trick in her first over, and Spin would help the tourists. Before Georgia Voll chipped her first ball to a diving Mandhana, the captain in place of the injured Harmanpreet, at extra cover, she first drew Litchfield out of her crease to stump her. Ellyse Perry, a seamer who was also ruled out for similar reasons, was out of the series for Australia because of a quad injury. But that didn't stop the hosts; Healy and Beth Mooney scored 64 runs together, with Mooney scoring fifty in her last international game in Brisbane. She fell as soon as she reached the landmark because Rodrigues made a great leaping catch at the backward point. Mooney, on the other hand, cruised to her own half-century to keep Australia ahead of the eight-ball curve. Mandhana turned to Shafali as time was running out. Shafali nearly hit in her first over when Annabel Sutherland hit a half-tracker, but Kashvee dropped a sitter deep in the middle of the wicket. Mooney did chip the ball to Mandhana at extra cover just as Australia was getting close to the end, but Sutherland scored a six to help the hosts win with 70 deliveries left. With two ODIs remaining, India will now attempt to draw level in Hobart's second ODI on February 27. With India claiming four points from their 2-1 T20I series, the multi-format series is now tied at four points, with the two teams sharing four points.