Star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana offered prayers at the Tirupati Balaji temple in Tirumala along with her family. This excursion came after India registered a comfortable victory over the Proteas side in the one-off Test, at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, which concluded on July 1st.
Mandhana played an essential role in India’s victory over South Africa, being involved in a 292-run opening partnership with Shafali Verma before being dismissed for 149, narrowly missing her 150. Her fellow partner Shafali went on to make a double century, resulting in India’s highest-ever Test total as the hosts declared their innings on 603, eventually winning the match by 10 wickets.
Currently, the Proteas are touring India for an all-format series. The three-match ODI series, which concluded in Bangalore, saw India whitewashing the Proteas 3-0. Mandhana was instrumental in the ODI series as well, amassing 343 runs and scoring two centuries. She broke multiple records during the series, becoming the first Indian to score consecutive centuries, among others. Her scores in the three-match series were 117, 136, and 90, earning her the Player of the Series award for her exceptional performance.
The three-match T20I series will begin on July 5th and conclude on July 9th. Smriti will look to continue her dream form in the T20I series, aiming to finish the all-format series against the Proteas on a high note.
