At an age when most cricketers are just about finding their feet in the international arena, Smriti Mandhana has already established herself as an indispensable part of India's line-up.
She's living a life less ordinary. Mandhana vindicated the immense faith the team had shown in the (then) 19-year-old by recording her maiden ODI hundred against Australia in early 2016. Her efforts went in vain with India failing to keep the three-match series alive, but the Maharashtra opener had earmarked herself as the one to watch. A superlative century in alien conditions, her backfoot play and, prior to that, the contributions in a historic T20I series win, did not go unnoticed.
"I know what my goal is - to play for India - and that keeps me going."
Months later, when Mandhana signed up for the Brisbane Heat in the Women's Big Bash League, she acknowledged that her heroics Down Under would serve as a confidence boost. However, she also maintained that she wasn't one to rest on past laurels. "I just can't think that I have done well there. Every game for me is a new challenge. It does give you confidence, but I'll rather be like 'yeah, I have experienced success here but I want to better it'." she told Cricbuzz.
A forgettable WBBL debut and a tournament-ending injury isn't exactly how Mandhana would have imagined her season would pan out. But then, Murphy's law decided to catch up. The ACL tear and the subsequent surgery meant she would spend the next six months on the sidelines, and face a very real race against time to recover for what would be her maiden World Cup.
Rehabilitation took precedence over what would have otherwise been regular practice sessions, and some family time in Sangli. While comeback girl Punam Raut and teenage sensation Deepti Sharma racked up some serious runs to make use of the opportunity and cement their spots in the World Cup squad, Mandhana sweated it out at the NCA, even during weekends, to earn her place back. Once cleared to resume nets, every spare minute was poured into relentless practice to ensure she was match-fit by the time selection committee sat down to decide her fate.
As luck would have it, the left-hander was named in the 15-member squad despite not having played any competitive cricket in the months leading up to the World Cup.
"Everyone has certain goals for themselves, and you do go through such phases but you can't just forget your goals. If you are feeling down, your goal should keep you going. I know what my goal is - to play for India - and that keeps me going during the ups and downs," she pointed.
Mandhana was all of nine when she casually signed up for trials she came across in a newspaper advertisement. Even before she could realise, she was a part of the Maharashtra under-15 side. At 11, she was fast-tracked to the state under-19 side and four years later, to the senior team, crisscrossing the country in unreserved train compartments for the love of game. A stunning 155 on debut against the Saurashtra side not only put her on the map in the domestic circuit but also assured the youngster that her academic sacrifices were worth it after all.
"That knock gave me the confidence that yeah, I can do well at senior levels and there is a very good future for me in the game," Mandhana said, reflecting back.
Luckily for her, and for India, lack of sufficient age-group competition did not deter her progress. In two years' time, having consistently hit the headlines, Mandhana was one of the debutants in the new-look national side for the home series against Bangladesh. Since then, there has been no looking back.
The setback came early in the career, but fortunately again, the consequences were not drastic. Though the sub-par World T20 campaign in 2014 in Bangladesh did teach her that international cricket was all about survival of the fittest, unshakable confidence in her own abilities kept Mandhana going.
"I think without self-belief you can't survive a lot of international cricket, at that level. To be able to achieve your dream - any dream, not just cricket - you need self-belief to go all the way and perform," said the southpaw who has the only domestic one-day double-century to her credit.
Mandhana isn't a huge fan of revealing her goals, not until she's achieved them, but she lets you in on how she goes about setting her sights on bigger targets. "I definitely gauge my past performances. And for me, it is all about (trying) to better it. My aim is to keep improving and play better the next time I take field.
"After the Bangladesh World Cup, I had set a certain goal for myself that I had to be a better player next season. A more consistent performer. And I can say, I think, that last season went according to the plan."
There was a blip when another World T20 came around, this time at home, but Mandhana insisted that wouldn't overshadow what had been a run-filled year for her both in international as well as domestic cricket.
Insignificant returns in two successive World T20s could test anybody's temperament but even at 20, she has shown enough maturity to handle the failures admirably well. Well enough for her to not get overwhelmed by this another chance she's been offered, in 2017's showpiece event.
Mandhana showed no signs of rustiness on her return from injury. In the unofficial warm-up clash against West Indies, barely days after landing in England, she top-scored with an unbeaten 77 in India's 175-run chase. This was followed by a 56-ball 44 in the second of tournament warm-up against Sri Lanka. These two knocks have all but guaranteed her a spot in the playing XI. But the pressures of an international comeback - at cricket's greatest stage - will be a different ball-game altogether.
It is India’s first win over England in five years as they had all lost all six previous matches to the hosts.
Women’s World Cup: India beat England by 35 runs
India women’s cricket team launched their campaign at the ICC Women’s World Cup with a comfortable 35—run win over England, riding on superb batting display by the top—order, here today.
Put into bat, Smriti Mandhana struck a sizzling 90 off 72 balls in a dominating batting display as India posted an imposing 281 for three after being asked to bat.
Mandhana forged a 144—run opening wicket stand with Poonam Raut (86 off 134) before skipper Mithali Raj (71 not out) completed an unprecedented seventh consecutive half century in ODIs.
India then returned to dismiss England for 246 with 15 balls to spare to make a resounding start to their World Cup campaign at the County Ground here.
It is India’s first win over England in five years as they had all lost all six previous matches to the hosts.
Chasing 282 to win, England failed to build partnership with middle—order batswoman Fran Wilson (81 off 102) emerging as the highest scorer. Her run out proved turning point of the game since England looked crusing when she was at the crease.
Off—spinner Deepti Sharma took three wickets for 47 runs.
Tammy Beaumont (14) and Sarah Taylor (22) gave England a decent start adding 33 in 8 overs but Shikha Pandey removed the openers and Deepti Sharma dismissed Natalie Sciver (18) as England slipped to 67 for 3 in the 18th over.
Heather Knight (46) and Wilson took the team across the 100—mark. But Knight was back into the hut in the 32nd over after being run out by Harmanpreet Kaur.
Three overs later, Danielle Wyatt was caught and bowled by Sharma as England lost half their side.
Wilson then in company of Katherine Brunt (24) tried to keep them in the hunt as the duo added 62 runs but both of them were run outs to dash England’s hopes.
Earlier, Indian openers Mandhana and Raut batted for 26.5 overs. While Raut was solid at the other end, Mandhana was out to attack from the word go.
The southpaw’s onslaught began when she smashed Katherine Brunt for four consecutive boundaries in the fourth over.
Mandhana was a last—minute inclusion to the squad after she recovered from an Anterior Crucial Ligament (ACL) injury she suffered during the Women’s Big Bash in January.
The 20—year—old during her whirlwind effort showed what she was worth the selection.
She can hit not only the fours at will but also the big hits. Mandhana mostly stayed on the back foot in her free flowing knock. Her first six came as she sat back on backfoot to hammer it over wide long—on.
She was majorly responsible for giving India a flying start as the team reached 59 in 10 overs.
However, things slowed down in the next 10 overs with India reaching 97 for no loss in 20 overs. If it was not for that period, India could have easily crossed the 300—run mark.
Mandhana was dismissed in the 27th over, missing out on a well deserved century. Her innings comprised 11 fours and two sixes.
Captain Raj then joined Raut in the middle and carried on with her rich vein of form to take India to a competitive total.
Raj smashed eight fours in her 73—ball knock before getting out off the last ball of the innings.
Post a Comment