Remember the 1990s, when many Indian cricket fans would often turn off their televisions the moment Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed in One Day Internationals? There was a widespread belief that India’s victory hopes rested entirely on his shoulders. Fast forward to today, and a strikingly similar scenario is unfolding in Indian women’s cricket, particularly in the ODI format.
Now, it’s Smriti Mandhana who commands that kind of indispensable presence at the top of the batting order. Her runs are becoming increasingly critical to India’s chances of winning, especially in ODIs. (Image: India’s Smriti Mandhana, captured by PTI Photo/Atul Yadav in New Delhi)
Mandhana has truly elevated her game to an extraordinary level this year. The Australian team, who recently faced her wrath in the ODI series, can certainly vouch for that. She amassed an incredible 300 runs across just three matches, hitting back-to-back centuries at an astonishing strike rate of 138.24 and an average of 100.
The sheer confidence and ease with which she pursued India’s monumental 413-run target against the reigning world champions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was truly captivating. She dismantled the formidable Aussie bowling attack, reaching a record-breaking hundred. As long as she was at the crease, there was a genuine sense of hope that India could achieve the seemingly impossible chase, even though they ultimately fell short by 43 runs in the third game of the series.
Despite her undeniable impact, Mandhana insists she doesn’t feel burdened by carrying India’s batting expectations. “Every single player in this squad is a match-winner, not just the starting eleven, but all fifteen. Anyone can step up at any given moment,” she stated. “If you look at our performances over the last year, we’ve managed to score over 300 runs even when I’ve been dismissed early. That clearly demonstrates we aren’t dependent on one individual player.”
However, the statistics don’t lie: India’s win percentage undeniably rises when Mandhana is in form and scoring runs. The team management will certainly be counting on her to maintain this exceptional streak as they head into the World Cup, which is just a week away.
Even her opponents acknowledge her prowess. Beth Mooney, another centurion from the same match, commented, “We knew Smriti would come at us hard throughout the series. She’s a world-class player and has been particularly outstanding for India over the past couple of years.” Since her debut a decade ago, Mandhana has been renowned for her exquisite timing and ability to find gaps, especially on the off-side. Now, she’s added a new dimension to her game by significantly improving her play on the on-side.
Mandhana attributes her enhanced performance to a newfound sense of calm. “Off the field, things have changed dramatically for me. The routines I follow and my work ethic are areas where I felt I could improve,” she explained. “For the past 12 months, I’ve been consistently working on that. I’m not a finished product yet; I’m still learning and striving to get better.”