Smriti Mandhana, India’s dynamic vice-captain, expressed her satisfaction with the team’s recent series against Australia, deeming it crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup. Mandhana herself led from the front, smashing an incredible 125 runs off just 63 balls in the final One-Day International at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday night, an innings that nearly pulled off an improbable chase of 413. She emphasized that facing a formidable opponent like Australia was the ideal litmus test for the squad.
“This series was a vital learning experience, helping us pinpoint our strengths and areas needing improvement,” Mandhana stated. “While we’ve enjoyed a successful 12 months playing at home, we hadn’t yet faced Australia on our turf. We’ve gathered a wealth of positives and identified key aspects to refine. With the team’s unwavering commitment to hard work, I believe we can conquer any challenge. Despite being a young side, their determination is truly inspiring.”
Despite her own stellar performance – accumulating 300 runs and two centuries to earn the Player-of-the-Series award – the opening batter humbly downplayed any notion of the team’s over-reliance on her individual brilliance.
“My faith in this team is immense; I truly believe we can snatch victory from any situation,” she affirmed. “Over the past year, we’ve consistently posted scores of 300 or more, even in matches where I didn’t perform optimally. Players like Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Harmanpreet Kaur have all contributed with fantastic centuries, showcasing our collective strength.”
Meanwhile, Beth Mooney, who was rightfully named Player-of-the-Match for her sensational 138 runs off just 75 balls in the decisive game, acknowledged the favorable conditions. “It was a rather flat wicket,” she remarked, indicating a batting-friendly pitch. “Even though Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, and Ashleigh Gardner showed great aggression, our momentum might have dipped slightly towards the end without a recognized batter consistently at the crease. Still, any team would gladly accept a score of 412 at the start of the day’s play.”