Mandhana Sees England T20s as Crucial World Cup Prep for India Women's Team

With the T20 World Cup just a year away, the Indian women's cricket team is gearing up for a five-match T20I series against England, commencing on June 28th. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana emphasized the importance of this series in acclimatizing to the English conditions.

Mandhana spoke in Harmanpreet Kaur's absence due to illness © Getty

"Considering the T20 World Cup is scheduled around the same time next year in similar conditions, this series provides an excellent opportunity for the team to adapt and assess how the conditions suit their respective games," Mandhana stated. "Five T20s offer a significant amount of play time to adjust, just a year out from the World Cup."

Mandhana also addressed the absence of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, stating that she was unwell but expected to participate in the series. "She is just unwell for today, so I'm just here filling up for today," Mandhana clarified.

The Indian team has undergone extensive preparation for the England tour, encompassing both the T20Is and the subsequent three ODIs. Several players, including Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani, are experiencing their first tour of England. The team arrived a week early to fine-tune their strategies.

"We've had a solid 25 days of preparation, including batting and bowling camps at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, specifically tailored for this tour," Mandhana explained. "Arriving early allowed us eight days of focused practice, including practice matches, which helped the newer players familiarize themselves with the conditions."

Recognizing the dynamic nature of the T20 format, Mandhana acknowledged the constant need for batters to evolve their game.

"In T20 cricket, there is always room for improvement," she said. "Not just for me, but for most batters. It's a format where you must continually improvise because opposition teams are constantly analyzing and planning against your batting style."

However, she maintained a grounded perspective, emphasizing the importance of focusing on each delivery. "There are numerous game plans and goals for me personally, but ultimately, cricket is about taking it one ball at a time," Mandhana added.

This tour will see Arundathi Reddy lead the pace bowling attack, with Amanjot Kaur, Gaud, and Sayali Satghare sharing the workload, as Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar and Titas Sadhu are sidelined with injuries. Mandhana expressed her excitement about the young pace bowlers showcasing their domestic experience.

"We have a new-look pace-bowling unit due to unfortunate injuries," she noted. "The Women's Premier League and the domestic system have been instrumental in identifying new talent."

She concluded, "The amount of matches the girls play nowadays gives them rich experience in the domestic format, so I'm really excited to see them. Young talent always brings excitement, and everyone's been prepping up well. What better place than England for a pacer to come to."