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New Delhi, July 18 (HS). Star Indian batsman Smriti Mandhana spoke about her mindset ahead of the start of the Women's Asia Cup 2024 and said that she just plays the ball according to its merit.
In the T20 format, Mandhana has played 136 matches and 131 innings, scoring 3320 runs at an average of 28.13 and a strike rate of 121.83. Defending champions India will begin their journey towards a record eighth Asia Cup title when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan in Dambulla on Friday.
Speaking to Star Sports, Mandhana said batting in the second innings is easier as the team gets a target, which makes it easier for them to assess the risk.
Mandhana said, “My mindset is just to play according to the merit of the ball. Sometimes you bat first or sometimes later. Of course, when you bat second, you have that score in front of you, and you can calculate your risks, and you can go for it. In the first innings, I think in T20, it is a bit disadvantageous that you don't know what to do. But I think one should not make it too complicated, just play according to the merit of the ball. It is very simple, just keep it simple. I think so.”
Ahead of the Women's Asia Cup, Team India has had several successes on the field, such as beating South Africa 3-0 in the ODI series and the only Test in June-July and drawing the three-match T20I series 1-1 with one match washed out due to rain.
Earlier, India had a successful tour of Bangladesh, where they won 5-0 in T20Is in April-May.
Between December and January last year, India also hosted Australia, playing one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is, winning one Test match but losing the ODI series 0-3 and the T20I series 1-2.
All these series/tournaments will be crucial for India's preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh from October 3-20 this year, where India will be aiming to win their first major ICC Women's trophy.
India Women's Asia Cup Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Uma Chhetri (wicketkeeper), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Shobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajna Sajeevan. Travel Reserves: Shweta Sehrawat, Saiqa Ishak, Tanuja Kanwar, Meghna Singh.