Smriti Mandhana Highlights Narrowing Gap Between India and Australia in Women's Cricket

Mandhana Discusses Competitive Edge in Women's Cricket

London [UK], June 28: Smriti Mandhana has expressed her belief that the disparity between India and Australia in women's cricket has significantly decreased, largely due to increased exposure from leagues such as the Women’s Big Bash League and the Women’s Premier League.

She acknowledged India's consistent improvement over the last five to six years, noting that in T20 matches, outcomes are now determined more by the performance on the day rather than a clear difference in skill levels.

Mandhana made these comments while addressing reporters ahead of India's Women's T20 World Cup match against Australia in London. The two teams are set to compete in a pivotal ICC Women’s T20 WC Group A match at Lord’s this Sunday.

This match is crucial for semi-final qualification, with a victory ensuring India's place in the final four.

“I believe the gap has certainly narrowed, especially with several of our players participating in the Big Bash and the WPL, sharing their experiences. The Indian team has shown steady progress over the last four to five years. It’s not just about the last two years; it’s been a gradual build-up. Now, particularly in T20 cricket, it’s about which team performs better on that day,” Mandhana stated.

India will draw strength from their recent 2-1 T20I series victory over Australia earlier this year on their home turf. After the series was tied at 1-1, India clinched the decisive match in Adelaide, where Mandhana scored a remarkable 82 runs off 55 balls, earning her the Player of the Match title.

Mandhana believes that the team will carry confidence from their recent T20 success in Australia into this crucial match. She credited the Women’s Premier League for enhancing Indian players' ability to manage high-pressure situations and expressed optimism that the team would leverage these experiences for their performance in this must-win game.

“We performed well in the T20 format in Australia, and we’ll take a lot of confidence from that. The WPL has prepared the girls to handle high-pressure games better than we did in the past. We hope to channel those experiences and memories to deliver our best tomorrow,” Mandhana remarked ahead of the critical encounter against the reigning champions.

Mandhana also emphasized the importance of this must-win match against Australia, stating that the team is committed to adhering to their strategies, putting in hard work, and drawing confidence from their recent achievements against the champions.

“We are all eagerly anticipating this match. It’s crucial for us to win to advance. That said, we will stick to our processes, work diligently, and aim to perform at our best. Everyone understands the significance of this match, and we have done well against them previously, which will boost our confidence,” Mandhana concluded.