Control-alt-delete this game: Fielding coach Munish Bali's advice to India

Despite putting up 282 on the board, India Women succumbed to a six-wicket loss at the hands of Australia Women in the first One-Day International (ODI) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday (December 28).

They decimated Australia in the one-off Test before that, but the seven time World Cup winners showed their class in the first ODI and registered the second-highest run-chase in Women's ODI history.

With the next game set to be played on Saturday (December 30), the turnaround time is very less. Fielding coach Munish Bali says that he and the the backroom staff are working on keeping the girls fresh and ensure that they have enough time to recover and give their best on the field.

"Recovery is very important. We played a Test match and in a couple of days' time we are playing one-day cricket, we have a game day after tomorrow," Bali told the media after first ODI.

"We will need the girls to be fresh and for that our team is working on the part that they should recover well. Control-alt-delete this game, (on to the) next game."

Bali also defended India's below-par fielding effort, putting that down to playing ODIs after a long time. India last played the 50-over format against Bangladesh in Mirpur in July this year, but have played plenty of T20Is since.

"Firstly, Australia also batted very well. They were taking their singles very well, there were less dot balls. We are playing ODI cricket after a long time so we can do better in fielding and bowling," he said.

"We fielded well in patches. In the first 25-27 overs there were a couple of direct hits, Sneh Rana took a brilliant catch and the energy was there. But we have to be consistent."

Bali admits the team also missed Jemimah Rodrigues in the field after she was severely dehydrated following her impressive 77-ball 82.

"Jemi is the heart of our team, she was struggling with the hydration issues batting in the heat," he said.

"She keeps everyone together and we missed her in the field today. Her energy rubs off on other players. She also encourages others and the whole atmosphere is different when she is around." 

Ellyse Perry showed her class once again scoring 75 at better than run-a-ball. She put on a match-changing 148-run stand for the second wicket with Pheobe Litchfield (78), after skipper Allysa Healy was dismissed for a duck. Litchfield said Perry's knock knock reminded her of Glenn Maxwell's innings from the World Cup against Afghanistan, where he cramped so badly, yet was able to score a double ton and help Australia to a victory.

Perry too was going through something similar in humid Mumbai conditions. Litchfield's mind immediately raced back to that epic Maxwell knock.

"She started to cramp in her calves which was quite a funny thing. I sort of got flashbacks to Glenn Maxwell's innings. She cramped but hit a six down the ground that is Ellyse Perry for you," Litchfield said.

"She just took the game on a bit more after she started cramping because she was like, I probably will not be out here for long, she added.