Mandhana: ‘Shafali and I have a huge role to play’ at the T20 World Cup

Reflecting on the England Series

As the Indian women’s cricket team gears up for the upcoming T20 World Cup, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is focusing on the critical importance of the opening partnership. Following a tough 2-1 series loss to England, Mandhana has highlighted that she and her opening partner, Shafali Verma, bear the responsibility of setting the foundation for the side. Despite their individual struggles during the recent three-match series, where their opening partnerships were limited to 19, 27, and 0 respectively, the duo remains committed to refining their craft.

Addressing the Opening Struggles

Mandhana addressed the recent performance with a professional and reflective tone, noting that while the technical aspects of their batting remain intact, they have failed to convert starts into significant contributions. ‘For me and Shifu, we are definitely timing the ball well, but unfortunately, we are not able to contribute in big ways for the team,’ Mandhana explained. She emphasized that the upcoming period in the nets would be vital to regaining the momentum that the Indian side relies upon to set high scores.

Statistically, the series provided a learning curve for both openers. Mandhana averaged 13.33, while Shafali maintained a higher strike rate of 152.17 despite averaging 11.66. The second match in Bristol offered a glimpse of their potential, as both contributed during a high-stakes chase. However, a middle-order collapse subsequently shifted the momentum, denying India a series-leveling win.

Positives in the Midst of Defeat

Despite the series defeat, there were clear silver linings for the Indian camp. Yastika Bhatia’s return from injury was a major highlight, as she emerged as the top run-scorer across both teams with 119 runs. Additionally, captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 56 off 40 balls in the series decider underscored her ability to anchor the innings under extreme pressure. Mandhana was full of praise for her captain, describing her performance as a ‘sight to watch’ and noting that her ability to find gaps all around the ground was instrumental in helping India post a challenging total of 180.

Strategic Adjustments Ahead of the World Cup

The series decider ultimately slipped away from India after a brilliant batting display by England’s Alice Capsey and Heather Knight. While India successfully reduced England to 38 for 3, they could not break the subsequent 137-run stand. Mandhana remains pragmatic about these tactical lapses, stating that the team will return to the drawing board to refine their bowling plans. ‘We’ll go back to the drawing board, see which options can be better. We know these conditions now, and we know what balls need to be bowled,’ she noted.

The Road to the T20 World Cup

India’s preparations continue with warm-up matches against the West Indies and England before they officially kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on June 14 in Birmingham. The significance of this opening fixture is not lost on the squad. Reflecting on the atmosphere of high-profile games, Mandhana emphasized that while the India-Pakistan clash always generates immense excitement, the focus remains on building the overall profile of the women’s game. ‘I just feel we really need to hype up the T20 World Cup. We don’t need to do it for India vs Pakistan; it’s already hyped up. Hopefully, we can put up a show for them,’ she added.

With a talented group that includes Jemimah Rodrigues and a seasoned captain in Harmanpreet Kaur, India is looking to build on the momentum of their previous successes. The team is clearly aiming to add the T20 World Cup title to their cabinet, and as Mandhana’s comments suggest, the key to that ambition lies in the consistency of the top order and a disciplined approach to their bowling strategies in the coming weeks.