The cricketing world just witnessed one of the most thrilling matches of women’s cricket in an ongoing multi-format series between India and South Africa.
In the second ODI of the 3-match series, India batted first and put up a huge total of 325 runs on the scoreboard, with the help of two magnificent innings from the vice-captain and captain duo, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. They both played impressive knocks of 136 runs and 103 runs, respectively. These two batters built a solid partnership of 171 runs in just 136 balls to help the Indian team reach 325 runs. In response, the Proteas also fought hard with Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt played an impressive innings of 114 runs and 135 runs, respectively. They both built a partnership of 184 runs in 170 balls, but they fell short and lost the match by the narrow margin of 4 runs.
Post-match, medium-pacer Arundhati Reddy, who received her ODI cap after five years since her T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2018, addressed a press conference at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Arundhati Reddy reflected on the crucial moments before the final over bowled by Pooja Vastrakar, emphasizing the importance of adapting strategies during the match. She noted that after Pooja’s initial deliveries, there was a strategic decision to encourage slower balls on the pitch, which ultimately led to success.
Arundhati acknowledged that setbacks could occur in cricket, but the key is to quickly recover and not dwell on mistakes. Drawing from her experience in bowling challenging overs for Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League, she expressed confidence in handling pressure situations. Arundhati highlighted the necessity of focusing on the present and maintaining a positive mindset, rather than lingering on past errors, as this mindset is crucial for a successful comeback.
She mentioned, “I’ve been prepared for it, and I like bowling the tough overs. So again, the focus was more on that. I think if you keep thinking about what went wrong, you’ll never be able to come back.”
Arundhati Reddy reflected on her long-awaited ODI debut, expressing gratitude for the journey that led her there. Having previously debuted in T20 cricket years ago, she endured a challenging period of exclusion from the national team, which she described as tough but ultimately enlightening.
During these years, she focused on honing her skills, particularly highlighted by a successful domestic season and her performances in the WPL, where she faced tough challenges that contributed to her growth and composure. Arundhati emphasized that the setbacks she faced during those years were pivotal in shaping her as a player and instilling resilience. She credited her perseverance and faith in her abilities for overcoming doubts and uncertainties, highlighting the importance of her experiences in different teams and situations in preparing her for her return to international cricket.
She said, “Those three tough years, I wouldn’t lie. But again, I’m glad those three years happened because if I’m the player I am today, it’s because of those three years that I had to work hard.”
Arundhati further expressed that despite the opposition’s strong partnership in the second innings, the team did not become complacent. She credited the opponents’ quality play for their performance but emphasized the team’s ability to stay focused and eventually win the game. She also highlighted the supportive environment within the team, mentioning how the leadership group and support staff made her feel comfortable and valued, especially on her debut. She appreciated the encouragement and backing she received, particularly from coach Amol Muzumdar, which helped boost her confidence and sense of responsibility within the team.
She mentioned, “I don’t think we relaxed at any point of time, but again, these things happen during a game. But what’s more important is how you come back. She further added, I was told yesterday that I’m making the debut and Amol spoke to me, Harry Di, Smriti. One thing is the support staff, and the leadership group is so supportive.”
Arundhati also spoke highly of Smriti Mandhana’s batting ability, noting that watching her score back-to-back hundreds was truly remarkable. She highlighted Mandhana’s ability to perform under pressure, such as in the first game where she guided the team through a challenging situation after losing early wickets. Arundhati also praised Mandhana’s partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur in the recent match, emphasizing their excellent performance together. She described Mandhana as someone who sets a strong example through her commitment and approach to the game, providing valuable lessons and insights for her teammates, including herself.
She said, “She’s (Smriti) someone who works really hard. I mean, just watching her at practice, how she goes about things, she’s amazing. Like you just learn so much just by watching her and Harry Di So it’s again a great learning for us and a lot of things to learn from both of them.”