India’s vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, feels that she and her opening partner, Shafali Verma, need to take on more responsibility at the start of the innings as the team shifts focus to the T20 World Cup following a series loss to England. Despite a strong start in the T20I series, India faced defeats, leading to England clinching the series 2-1. Mandhana sees the tour as crucial preparation for the upcoming global tournament in English conditions.
The opening duo struggled during the series, collectively scoring only 75 runs in three matches despite showing glimpses of form. Mandhana acknowledged the need for both her and Shafali to step up and make significant contributions to the team. She emphasized the importance of working hard in the nets to improve their performance as an opening pair.
While India seemed poised to level the series in the final match by restricting England to 38/3, a pivotal partnership between Heather Knight and Alice Capsey turned the game in England’s favor. Mandhana recognized the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and praised England’s batting display, highlighting the challenges of maintaining momentum in such matches.
Reflecting on the defeat, Mandhana pointed out the learnings India gained about their bowling strategies in conditions similar to those they will face in the World Cup. She stressed the importance of analyzing their bowling options and refining their plans based on the experience gained during the series.
One of the positives for India in the final T20I was captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten half-century, which helped India post a competitive total of 180. Mandhana lauded Harmanpreet’s innings under pressure and expressed satisfaction with the batting form displayed by various team members ahead of the upcoming tournament.
As India gears up to face Pakistan in their opening match on June 14, Mandhana highlighted the significance of the T20 World Cup in promoting women’s cricket. She emphasized the need to generate excitement around the tournament and hoped for a strong performance to captivate fans and showcase the growing popularity of women’s cricket.
