Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, candidly admitted that her side would have relished the opportunity to play a Super Over in the final ODI against Bangladesh Women in Dhaka. The thrilling match ended in a tie, leading to both teams sharing the series, but the scheduled time had already elapsed, depriving the players and fans of a Super Over spectacle.
Mandhana expressed her team’s desire for the additional excitement and challenge of a Super Over, stating, “We would love to play a Super Over, and I don’t think there was a question which was asked about Super Over to us. It was all decided. But we would’ve loved to play a Super Over.” Despite the captivating finish to the game, much of the attention centered around Harmanpreet Kaur’s reactions to certain on-field umpiring decisions.
💬 Smriti Mandhana opens up on the incident during the 3rd ODI against Bangladesh.#CricketTwitter #BANvIND #HarmanpreetKaur 🎥: BCB pic.twitter.com/KK5w4NkDk3
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 24, 2023
The Indian skipper expressed her displeasure and frustration, even taking her anger out on the stumps after being given out. Mandhana, however, defended her captain’s actions, acknowledging that such moments are part and parcel of the game and often occur in the heat of the moment. “When you play for India, you want to win the match, and it happens in the heat of the moment,” Mandhana explained.
The absence of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the series raised concerns about umpiring decisions. Mandhana called for the presence of neutral umpires in future India-Bangladesh matches, especially when DRS is unavailable. She emphasized the need for fair and accurate decisions, stating, “We kind of expect a little better level. I would term it as a better level of umpiring in terms of some decisions because it was very evident; there was not even a second thought given when the ball was hitting the pad when our batters were batting.”
🗨️ "Bring the umpires too"
Nigar Sultana was unhappy with the remarks and took her players back to the dressing room.#BANvIND #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/PZNoZEei1w
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 23, 2023
Despite the series loss to Bangladesh, Mandhana highlighted the positive takeaways and learning experiences for the Indian team. She praised the outstanding performances of Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues, who displayed immense talent and potential. Mandhana emphasized the significance of having different match-winners throughout the T20 series, reflecting the team’s determination to improve and adapt quickly to various challenges.
In conclusion, Smriti Mandhana’s candid remarks shed light on the passion and intensity that players bring to the game of cricket. Despite missing out on a Super Over opportunity, the series served as a testament to the growth of women’s cricket and the potential for further development in the future. With a focus on continuous improvement and learning, the Indian team remains resolute in its commitment to playing a good brand of cricket and achieving success on the international stage.
(Quotes sourced from Cricbuzz)
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