Cricket Australia has changed the venue for the third women’s ODI between Australia and India in 2026. The match was planned for March 1 at Melbourne’s Junction Oval as a day-night game. It will now be played in Hobart at Bellerive Oval.
The reason for the change is a delay in the installation of new floodlights at Junction Oval. The work could not be finished on time. Safety issues and access problems during construction also made it impossible to host an international game under lights at the ground.
Why Was AUS vs IND Match Shifted?
Cricket Australia had hoped the lights would be ready several weeks before the match. Officials were also excited to host the first international game under lights at Junction Oval. But with the project delayed, the plan had to be dropped.
Peter Roach, head of cricket operations and scheduling at Cricket Australia, said it was a disappointing decision. He added that fans in Melbourne will miss out on women’s international cricket this season.
The schedule also left little room for adjustment. The second ODI is on February 27 and the third ODI on March 1. With just one day between matches, organisers felt they could not switch the game to a day fixture in Melbourne.
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The change means Hobart will now host back-to-back ODIs. This reduces travel for both teams, officials, and broadcasters. Fans who had already purchased tickets for the Junction Oval game will get full refunds.
Junction Oval will still be busy in the coming months. It will host WBBL games for the Melbourne Stars and Renegades, along with other domestic daytime matches. But international night games will only be possible after the lights project is completed.
Updated Schedule of India Women’s Tour of Australia 2026
- February 15: 1st T20I, Sydney
- February 19: 2nd T20I, Canberra
- February 21: 3rd T20I, Adelaide
- February 24: 1st ODI, Brisbane
- February 27: 2nd ODI, Hobart
- March 1: 3rd ODI, Hobart
- March 6–9: Test Match, Perth
