As India gear up to face Australia after a narrow defeat against South Africa, all-rounder Sneh Rana addressed the media ahead of the crucial clash in Vizag. Speaking about the team’s mindset, approach, and plans, Rana reflected confidence and composure as India aim to bounce back in the ICC Women’s World Cup campaign.
“We’re facing Australia, definitely the strongest competitor,” Rana began. “But on the other hand, we are going in with a very positive mindset. We’ve played against them before and even beaten them in the past, so the focus will be on giving our best and heading forward in the World Cup with a win.”
Despite India’s record against Australia in recent meetings, Rana emphasized belief within the camp. “There’s definitely confidence in the group. Everyone is clear in their minds about their roles and plans. We’re taking a positive mindset into this game.”
When asked about India’s recent struggles against left-arm spin and top-order dismissals, especially players getting out attempting sweeps, Rana played down any major concerns.
“I don’t think it’s a big concern,” she said. “Our batters have handled such situations well in the past. Ups and downs are part of the game – it’s just a matter of one good knock, and I’m hopeful they’ll bounce back soon.”
Australia are known for their aggressive brand of cricket, often dominating with both bat and ball. Rana acknowledged their approach but asserted that India have done their homework.
“As you said, the World Cup is a completely different stage. The pressure is unique,” she noted. “We’ve seen Australia’s aggressive style for a long time, but on the other hand, our plans are also very clear. We’ve discussed and prepared strategies in team meetings. Hopefully, we’ll have a positive start.”
When asked about India’s combination and whether the team lacked an additional pacer, Rana responded diplomatically, “That call is clearly up to the management, and I can’t say much about it. We already have very good bowlers, and even Pooja Vastrakar can bowl as an all-rounder. So, it doesn’t matter much – we’ll just focus on giving our best.”
Reflecting on how the bowlers handled pressure in the previous match, Rana said, “We’ve planned how to tackle such situations. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, but I’m happy with how the bowlers pulled the match till the last over. Going forward, I’m expecting an even better performance in the next game.”
The conversation also turned to umpiring and DRS decisions, especially after a few debatable calls in the match against South Africa. “Such things can happen to any team,” Rana said. “Umpiring standards are generally good at this level, and DRS has been used internationally for many years. We just move on from such moments and focus on our game.”
Asked how the team has regrouped after the defeat, Rana highlighted the team’s unity and resilience. “That’s the beauty of this team – when things don’t go your way, it shows your character,” she explained. “Wins and losses are part of the game, but we always bounce back together. We go back, study what went wrong, and plan how to improve. We don’t dwell on losses – we focus on how to tackle the next challenge better.”
Rana, who has contributed consistently with both bat and ball, also spoke about her personal preparations. “Personally, I’ve been working more on my batting,” she said. “I know the situations I come into bat, so I’ve been preparing for those cameos. I’ve worked a lot on my power-hitting in the last few months. There are a lot of positives- our fielding, bowling, and how we’re handling pressure. We also have young players whose attitude and character inspire us. The message is always simple: do your best, irrespective of the result. We’re here to win.”
Rana concluded by mentioning how India’s preparatory camp at Vizag has helped the team understand local conditions better. “The camp we had here really helped,” she said. “We got a sense of the ground dimensions, how fast the ball travels, and how the pitch behaves after the first innings. All of this helps in fielding and match preparation.”
With clarity in plans, confidence in their setup, and a determination to bounce back, India, led by a calm and assured Sneh Rana – look ready to challenge the reigning champions Australia in what promises to be one of the most intense clashes of the tournament.
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