Smriti Mandhana believes that India’s back-to-back 3-0 series victories against the West Indies and Ireland.
Smriti Mandhana believes that India’s back-to-back 3-0 series victories against the West Indies and Ireland have set the perfect momentum for what could be their “best year in one-dayers” as they prepare for the Women’s ODI World Cup later this year. The Indian team has rediscovered its form with six consecutive ODI wins, and Mandhana is keen to maintain this momentum.
Reflecting on the recent success, Mandhana stated, “Two 3-0 sweeps are definitely really good in a World Cup year. We have to keep going to make this our best year for one-dayers.” In the third ODI against Ireland, she scored a stunning 135 runs, while PratikaRawal contributed 154, leading to a record total of 435/5. Their partnership of 233 runs for the first wicket is now the third highest for India in ODIs.
Rawal expressed her joy at scoring her maiden century and acknowledged that she initially slowed down but accelerated after reaching the milestone. Mandhana emphasized the importance of refining their game ahead of the World Cup, particularly in fielding and running between wickets, to ensure they are well-prepared for upcoming challenges.