IND vs SA: “It Is Really A Good Confidence Booster” – Smriti Mandhana Following India’s Successful Series vs South Africa

In the world of cricket, where individual brilliance often takes centre stage, it’s easy to forget the essence of the game: teamwork. Smriti Mandhana, a vital cog in the Indian women’s cricket team, encapsulates this spirit. After a triumphant series that saw India excel across formats against South Africa, Mandhana opened up about the journey, the preparation, and the key players who have made a difference.

Riding the Wave of Momentum

“More than anything because cricket is a team sport, sometimes you always enjoy that winning momentum a lot more. I think this series was much needed for us before the World Cup so it is really a good confidence booster and the next two months will be very crucial for us,” Smriti Mandhana began, reflecting on the recent series win.

This series, coming right before the World Cup, was crucial. It served as a much-needed confidence booster for the team. Mandhana emphasized the importance of the upcoming two months, highlighting how the series has set the tone for their World Cup campaign. Mandhana attributed the team’s success to the rigorous preparation that preceded the series. The dedicated batters’ camp, which lasted 10-12 days, played a pivotal role.

“For me as well, a lot of work was put in the batters camp we had and coming into the series, the dedicated batters camp for 10-12 days and the N number of hours putting into batting which really helps sometimes where you are in season. Back to back, I’m not sure how long we’ve been on the road now and it’s hard to just go out there and bat. So those 10-12 days puts you back in a good place and mentally I think we all were ready red ball cricket, one day cricket, T20 cricket because, in the batter’s camp, we had scenarios like that,” she said.

“Even the bowlers worked hard in the bowler’s camp. I always believe in prepping well and working really hard when people don’t watch so I think that is something that helped me and the whole team come out here and play with a lot of confidence.”

This intense focus on preparation, away from the public eye, allowed the team to approach each format—be it red ball, one day, or T20 cricket—with a solid mental and technical foundation.

The Rise of Pooja Vastrakar

One of the standout performers of the series was Pooja Vastrakar. Mandhana was effusive in her praise for the all-rounder, marvelling at her consistency and resilience across formats.

“It’s just brilliant to watch her. As a batter, it’s been a long series on my body, and as a bowler, I don’t know how she’s done that consistently in all the formats. Then coming into the T20s isn’t really easy let alone as a batter or as a bowler I cannot even begin to imagine her workload how she’s managing it. It is really a massive thing for me to see her go about her work day in and day out. Even in the last three T20I series as well, right from Bangladesh the way she bowled in the death overs was fantastic,” Smriti Mandhana remarked.

“It was hard to even sight the ball when she was bowling when I was seeing it live.” Vastrakar’s performances in the T20 series were particularly noteworthy.

Despite the challenges of transitioning between formats, she managed to deliver when it mattered most.

“We all know she has had some different spark in the last 2-3 months with the way she has been bowling and coming into the series as well we were confident, she would do well. Looking at the first two matches and the wickets were really flat and for her to come back with those sorts of figures were really amazing. So I’m hoping she keeps doing the same thing for us and she’ll be crucial for us going into the World Cup as well,” Mandhana observed, highlighting Vastrakar’s evolution and her pivotal role in the team’s success.

Her ability to perform under pressure, especially in the death overs, has made her a crucial asset as the team looks ahead to the World Cup.

A Dynamic Partnership: Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma

Another key element of India’s recent success has been the formidable partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Mandhana, with her experience and composure, and Verma, with her explosive style, have developed a synergy that has been instrumental in India’s batting strategy.

“I think with Shifu the best is when she does not think a lot while batting. You don’t give her a lot of information when she goes out to bat,” Smriti Mandhana explained. The simplicity of their communication—focused on keeping Verma calm and letting her natural game flow—has been a defining aspect of their partnership.

“The only information from the non-striker’s end is when she hurries up and I just ask her to stay and that’s the only thing I say. With a player like Shifu, you know that one innings will come where she will dominate. As a unit, this team is really different and we really haven’t had that thought. Even as a senior player, my role is just to guide her there and give more information about the bowler at that point and she adapts,” she added with a smile.

“The best thing for both of us is that we understand each other’s game much better in the last 1.5-2 years. Of course, when she came in things were a lot different as she’d come in and go bang-bang. Now she’s understood which bowlers to target.”

This understanding has been nurtured over the past couple of years, evolving from a simple ‘bang-bang’ approach to a more nuanced strategy. “Spinners are her strength and pacers are my strength which works really well. On a given day, we know who is timing the ball better and during the powerplay, who should take the strike. So knowing each other’s game has helped us take it to a high,” Mandhana elaborated.

This complementary dynamic allows them to play to their strengths, ensuring that one of them is always in control during the powerplay.

As the Indian team gears up for the World Cup, the confidence and preparation derived from their recent successes will be invaluable. Mandhana’s insights shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts that have propelled the team forward. From the intense training camps to the rise of new stars like Pooja Vastrakar, and the evolving partnerships on the field, every element has contributed to building a team ready to take on the world.

For Smriti Mandhana, the journey is as much about the collective as it is about individual brilliance. Her leadership, both on and off the field, exemplifies the true spirit of cricket—a sport where the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.

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