In the recently concluded South Africa tour of India, from June 16 to July 9, the hosts dominated with a clean sweep in the 3-match One-Day International (ODI) series, a comfortable 10-wicket victory in the one-off Test, followed by a dominant win in the 3rd Twenty20 International (T20I) to draw the series 1-1.
In the 3-match T20 International (T20I) series, from July 5th to 9th at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the Proteas won the 1st match by 12 runs, and while the 2nd match was abandoned due to persistent rain, India won the 3rd and final T20I, by 10 wickets to seal the series.
Following the 3rd T20I match, India’s vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana addressed a press conference at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
On her batting consistency:
Smriti Mandhana emphasized the importance of cricket as a team sport and the enhanced enjoyment of winning momentum. She noted that the recent series was crucial for the team before the World Cup, serving as a significant confidence booster. With the next two months being critical for everyone with the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup approaching, Mandhana highlighted the extensive work put in during the batters’ camp leading up to the series. The dedicated 10 to 12 days of focused batting practice provided a mental edge, especially considering the team’s continuous play over the years. This preparation ensured that all batters were ready to play in different formats, including red-ball cricket, one-day cricket, and T20. The bowlers also benefited from a brilliant camp. She believes in the importance of rigorous preparation and hard work behind the scenes, which greatly contributed to the team’s confident performance.
She stated, “This series was much needed for us as a team before the World Cup. It’s a really good confidence booster going into the World Cup. The next two months are gonna be really crucial for all of us, and yeah, for me as well.”
She further added, “Mentally, I think we all were ready—not only me, but all the batters throughout the series were ready to play red-ball cricket, one-day cricket, and T20 because we kind of had those scenarios in that batters’ camp. Even the bowlers, I think, had a brilliant bowlers’ camp. So I always believe in prepping well and working really hard when people don’t watch. So, I think that was, you know, what really helped me and the whole team to come out here and play with a lot of confidence.”
On Pooja Vastrakar’s performance:
Smriti Mandhana praised Pooja Vastrakar’s performance, describing it as brilliant to watch. She marvelled at Vastrakar’s ability to bowl numerous overs across different formats, including one-day cricket, the Test match, and then transitioning into T20s. Mandhana found it remarkable how Vastrakar managed her workload as a bowler, something she found hard to imagine as a batter. Highlighting the last three T20 series, starting from Bangladesh, Mandhana noted Vastrakar’s exceptional bowling, particularly in the death overs, where her speed made it difficult to see the ball. She emphasized the confidence the team had in Vastrakar coming into the series, especially after her impressive performances in the first two matches on flat wickets. Mandhana expressed hope that Vastrakar would continue her outstanding form, underscoring her importance for the upcoming World Cup.
She said, “We all knew she had some different spark in the last two to three months with the way she has been bowling. Coming into the series, we were all really confident about her.”
She further stated, “In the first two matches, the wickets were really flat, and for her to come with such figures is amazing. Hopefully, she keeps doing the same things and will be crucial for us in the World Cup.”
On India’s batting approach:
Smriti Mandhana emphasized that it is not about out-and-out aggression, but rather controlled aggression. The team focuses on respecting and playing according to the conditions instead of just seeing the ball and hitting it. She mentioned that even players like Shafali and Richa aim to hit balls within their zone and respect those that are not. Under pressure, Mandhana suggested that she might opt for an aggressive option, but it is always controlled aggression. She highlighted that today their strike rate was almost a hundred, respecting the wicket conditions. She said that once set, the batters can take on the bowlers and know which ones to target. Mandhana stated she does not believe in simply being aggressive as batters but in being smart. Controlled aggression is the strategy they are looking at for the next two months, especially when playing on Bangladesh’s wickets and in World Cup conditions. She is confident that controlled aggression will be more effective than just going all out.
She stated, “I wouldn’t say that it’s out-and-out aggression, it’s just controlled aggression. More like respecting the conditions and playing according to them is a bigger topic we talked about rather than just going out and seeing the ball and hitting.”
She further added, “We have to be smart, and I feel controlled aggression is something we are looking at in the next two months, especially playing on Bangladesh’s wickets and in the conditions for the World Cup. I am sure that controlled aggression would work much better than just going all out.”
On India’s batting order:
Smriti Mandhana emphasized that India’s batting order has not undergone significant shuffling, leaving behind the number three issue, noting that she and Shafali have consistently opened, with Harmanpreet at four and Richa at five for an extended period. Looking ahead, Mandhana stressed the importance of strategizing for the upcoming months leading to the tournament, focusing on what will secure victory across the entire event rather than individual matches. She highlighted that all their batters are flexible and committed to winning each match for the team, dispelling any notions of experimental placements or undue aggression. Mandhana underscored the team’s goal to dominate throughout the World Cup, emphasizing the need to carefully construct and execute their batting lineup to achieve success.
She said, “I don’t think we have shuffled our batting order a lot, maybe our number three was one thing; otherwise, I don’t think, you know, me and Shafali have been opening, and Harman has been at four, and Richa has been at five for a very long time.”
On her partnership and conversations with Shafali Verma:
Smriti Mandhana noted that Shafali bats best when she doesn’t overthink. When Shafali is at the crease, give her minimal information and simply encourage her to stay focused when she tries to hurry. Mandhana recognizes that with a player like Shafali, a dominating inning is always imminent. As a senior player, her role is to guide Shafali, providing relevant information about the bowler and allowing her to adapt. Over the past one and a half to two years, they have grown to understand each other’s game much better. Initially, Shafali would play aggressively, but now she knows which bowlers to target. This dynamic works well, with Shafali favouring spinners and Mandhana favouring pacers. They coordinate who should take more strikes in the powerplay, knowing who is timing the ball better on a particular day. Mandhana believes this growing understanding of each other’s game will continue to benefit their partnership.
She said, “I think with Shifu, the best she bats is when she doesn’t think a lot, so that’s the best. When she goes out, you don’t give a batter like her a lot of information. The only conversation from the non-striker’s end is when she tries to hurry up stuff, I just say, ‘Just stay.’”
She further added, “The only conversation for me as a senior player/batter is just to guide her there, maybe just give more information about the bowler at that point, or something she is trying to do, and then she just adapts.”
On Asia Cup Squad Selection:
Smriti Mandhana emphasized a cautious approach to revealing details at the moment. She acknowledged the significance of the Asia Cup, noting its suitability for conditions similar to Bangladesh’s wickets. Mandhana highlighted the positive challenge of having a deep pool of talented players in Indian cricket, capable of winning matches independently. She credited the confidence instilled by events like the WPL in fostering such depth. Mandhana clarified that the squad selection wasn’t experimental but rather a well-considered decision made collectively by several key figures. Looking ahead, she hinted at discussing these decisions more openly after the World Cup. Mandhana stressed the importance of forming a lineup that maximizes the team’s potential to win matches consistently, rather than focusing solely on short-term outcomes. She acknowledged recent lineup adjustments due to injuries like Richa’s and emphasized the strategic placement of players like Uma, who excels in the top order. Reflecting on the first T20, Mandhana affirmed it was a carefully thought-out decision-making process.
She said, “I think it’s a good problem to have in Indian Cricket. For years, we have wanted this—a problem of having a lot of players who can go out and win matches on any given day. I am sure the confidence from what WPL has given has really put them in that space. But I don’t think it’s an experiment; it’s a calculated thing which we have definitely thought through.”
She further added, “It’s a lot to do with what we feel can win us a lot of matches rather than one or two matches. So, that’s what it’s all about. I wouldn’t say that there will be lots of shuffling; of course, we had to do that a lot more at the last moment because Richa was injured. And then definitely Uma’s place in the team, she bats a lot better at the top order, so that change was definitely a forced change. But yeah, the first T20 definitely, it was a thoughtful one.”