The Indian women’s cricket team is eagerly anticipating the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, which kicks off on September 30 in Guwahati, aiming to end their prolonged wait for an ICC trophy. At the forefront of these aspirations is vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, whose outstanding performances over the past two years have been absolutely vital.
Just recently, during the second ODI at PCA Mullanpur Stadium, Mandhana delivered a breathtaking century off just 77 balls – the fastest ever by any player against Australia. This explosive innings propelled India to a commanding 102-run victory, marking Australia’s heaviest defeat in ODIs and, significantly, India’s first home ODI win against the formidable Aussies since 2007.
Ellyse Perry, Australia’s acclaimed all-rounder, who has not only faced Mandhana in various leagues and international matches but also played alongside her for their WPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, expressed profound admiration for Mandhana’s batting prowess. At the post-match press conference, Perry remarked with a playful grin, “Smriti makes batting look easy. It wasn’t great watching her innings, but everyone enjoys watching her bat. She is a truly good batter and she played brilliantly.”
Even young Indian pacer Kranti Goud, who bowled an impressive spell of three wickets for 28 runs in 9.5 overs to help restrict Australia to 190, couldn’t help but praise Mandhana’s batting. “Everyone is crazy about her batting. When Smriti bats, the whole stadium chants her name. She batted really well today, and I enjoyed watching it too,” Goud shared.
Since forming an opening partnership with Delhi’s Pratika Rawal, Mandhana has intentionally embraced a more aggressive batting style. Her strategy involves attacking bowlers early on, which in turn allows Rawal more time to settle at the crease. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer famously bestowed upon Mandhana the title of “Goddess of the offside” for her exceptional ability to find gaps, a trait reminiscent of former India captain Sourav Ganguly. Mandhana is committed to maintaining this attacking approach throughout the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup.
Reflecting on the recent triumph, Mandhana stated, “The last two hundreds I scored against Australia were unfortunately in a losing cause, so I’m incredibly happy that we secured the win today. My game plan was straightforward: utilize the powerplay effectively, then build my innings, and go after any ball that was in my hitting zone. The wicket was very flat, so aggression was a necessity. Moving into the World Cup, I will aim to be aggressive in every game, always adapting to the specific conditions.”
The opening partnership between Mandhana and Rawal has proven to be both formidable and remarkably consistent in Women’s ODIs, boasting an average of 80.66 since their inception. Rawal elaborated on their dynamic: “We complement each other seamlessly. She is calm and composed, and I share a similar temperament. We don’t overcomplicate things. There isn’t a need for lengthy discussions between innings; she executes her role perfectly, and I do mine. There’s a natural, unforced understanding between us.”