During the ongoing South Africa tour of India, a multi-format series which runs from June 16 to July 9. India clean swept the 3-match One Day International (ODI) series. The hosts won the one-off test comfortably by 10 wickets at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
In the one-off Test against the Proteas, India posted a historic total of 603/6 before declaring their innings. South Africa responded with a fight on Day 1, reaching 236/4, but were eventually bowled out for 266 on Day 3. Forced to follow on and trailing by 337 runs, South Africa showcased resilience, achieving their highest-ever innings total of 373 in Women’s Test cricket, bolstered by their highest 2nd wicket partnership and lower-order contributions.
On Day 4, South Africa’s resistance was led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 122 off 314 balls. Despite her efforts, South Africa struggled as Sneh Rana took 2 key wickets, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad also claimed 2 wickets. Marizanne Kapp added 31 runs, and Nadine de Klerk contributed 61, but the team was all out for 373 in 154.4 overs. India chased down the modest target of 37 runs without losing any wickets, with Shafali Verma scoring 24 off 30 balls and Shubha Satheesh adding 13 off 26 balls, securing a 10-wicket victory for India.
Following the 4th and final day of the one-off test match, Sneh Rana who claimed 10 wickets in the match and earned the Player of the Match award, held a press conference at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
ON THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS SHE WORKED ON IN THE PRE SERIES CAMP:
Sneh Rana explained that the focus wasn’t on delving deeply into technical aspects due to the limited time available. Instead, the emphasis was on developing strategies for bowling, maximizing individual strengths, and assessing the effectiveness of stock deliveries or variations. This approach aimed to optimize performance by honing specific aspects crucial for the upcoming matches.
She said, “But yes, we made a strategy on what you can do, what you can bowl, how you can bring out your best, and if your stock ball or any variation is working for you. So, we only worked on those aspects.”
ON THE LEARNINGS FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND INNINGS OF THE TEST:
Sneh Rana acknowledged that the pitch was favouring the batsmen more than the bowlers, making conditions difficult. However, she pointed out that such pitches are becoming common everywhere. She emphasized the importance of focusing on consistency, understanding what needs to be worked on, varying deliveries, and knowing when to use stock balls more effectively. These are the learnings that players carry forward. She also highlighted the need for preparation against top batters like Laura and Kapp, noting that the strategies used against them can be effective against other batsmen as well.
She stated, “So, the key is to focus on consistency, what you need to work on, how to vary your deliveries, and when to use your stock balls more. I think these are the learnings that you carry forward, what you can do next.”
ON THE SATISFACTION OF DOING WELL AGAINST BIG TEAMS:
Sneh Rana addressed the common misconception that playing against an off-spinner is easy, stating that no bowler should be taken lightly given the hard work and numerous variations involved in modern cricket. She highlighted the immense satisfaction that comes from beating the best teams and performing when it really matters, noting that there is nothing more gratifying than such achievements.
She highlighted, ”And talking about satisfaction, there is a lot of satisfaction because when you beat the best teams, perform against them, and do so at times when it’s really needed, I think there’s nothing more satisfying than that.”
ON HOW THE BOWLING GROUP WERE KEEPING ITSELF MOTIVATED IN THE SECOND INNINGS:
Sneh Rana explained that in the second innings, the bowling group stayed motivated by understanding that Test matches have phases where partnerships form, and it’s crucial to keep both the mind and body active. They discussed strategies to stay alert and maintain energy, especially after fielding for over 200 overs on the third day. To keep themselves fresh and engaged, they cracked a few jokes among themselves, which might have been heard on the mic. This lighthearted approach helped them stay focused and motivated.
She said, “See, I think that’s what Test match is all about, you know, there will be phases when another partnership will form but how you keep your mind active and your body active. I think that’s what we discuss inside.”
ON THE DISCUSSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS AFTER DAY 3:
Sneh Rana explained that during the huddle, they focused on maintaining positive thoughts and energy whenever they went back on the field. Each time they entered after a break, they ensured to carry positive energy. The main discussion among the players was that all 11 on the field should believe a positive result was imminent. She emphasized that maintaining belief in oneself and in each other contributed significantly to a favourable outcome.
She expressed, “I think it is because of maintaining belief in oneself and in each other that this result has come.”
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TEST CRICKET FOR WOMEN’S CRICKET:
Sneh Rana highlighted it as one of the best formats. She expressed gratitude towards the BCCI for reintroducing the multi-day format in domestic cricket, believing it will further benefit the game. Rana advocated for an increase in the number of Test matches, suggesting that having more Tests would be beneficial, proposing not just one but ideally two Tests whenever possible.
She stated, “I think Test is one of the best formats of cricket, and the more there are, the better it is for Women’s Cricket.”
She further added, “So in my opinion, there should be as many as possible, not just one but two.”
ON THE TEAM’S POSITIVE MINDSET AND BELIEF IN VICTORY:
Sneh Rana emphasized the team’s unwavering positivity and collective belief in victory, highlighting that every player entered the match with a positive mindset. She stressed that no one within the team doubted their ability to perform, asserting that they all believed the match was always in favour of the Indian team. Rana credited their shared belief in taking wickets and noted that this positive outlook contributed to their success. She added that even players on the sidelines and the support staff shared the conviction that they would emerge victorious in the Test match, emphasizing how this unified belief ultimately proved effective.
She expressed, ”We all believed in each other that we were going to take wickets. I think when you think like that, positive things happen. There wasn’t even a single player who had doubts, even the players who were outside and the support staff who were sitting there all had the belief that we were going to win this Test match. I think that belief paid off.”