India Women's Cricket: England T20 Series Key to World Cup Prep, Says Mandhana

India's women's cricket team is set to embark on a five-match T20I series in England, commencing on June 28th, as crucial preparation for the T20 World Cup to be held in England next year. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming series, highlighting the valuable opportunity it presents for the team to acclimatize to the English conditions.

Smriti Mandhana addressing the press in place of Harmanpreet Kaur. © Getty

"With the T20 World Cup scheduled around the same time next year, during the UK summer with similar conditions, this series provides an excellent opportunity for the girls to prepare and assess how well their game suits these conditions," Mandhana stated. "Five T20s offer a substantial amount of cricket in conditions mirroring those of the World Cup, making it an ideal preparatory ground."

Mandhana also addressed the absence of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, stating that she was unwell on the day of the pre-match press conference but clarified that it was not an indication of her missing the match. "She's just unwell for today; I'm filling in for her," Mandhana explained.

The Indian team has undergone nearly a month of intensive preparation for the England tour, which includes three ODIs following the T20I series. To ensure optimal readiness, the team arrived in England a week early, allowing players like Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani, who are touring England for the first time, to adjust to the environment. Mandhana expressed satisfaction with the team's preparation, deeming it ideal for the upcoming series.

"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 noted. "Arriving here early allowed us eight days of preparation, including a few good practice matches. This was crucial for many girls experiencing their first England tour to acclimatize to the conditions."

Mandhana acknowledged the ever-evolving nature of T20 cricket, emphasizing the need for constant improvement and adaptation from batters due to the tactical planning employed by opposing teams.

"In the T20 format, there's always room for improvement. Most batters, including myself, need to keep improvising and enhancing their game because other teams are constantly analyzing and strategizing against our batting styles," she said.

Despite the strategic considerations, Mandhana maintained a grounded perspective, emphasizing the importance of focusing on each ball. "While I have game plans and goals as an individual, ultimately, cricket is about taking it one ball at a time," she affirmed.

India's pace bowling attack will be spearheaded by Arundathi Reddy, with Amanjot Kaur, Gaud, and Sayali Satghare sharing the workload. Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar, and Titas Sadhu remain sidelined due to injuries. Mandhana expressed her excitement about the young pace bowlers showcasing their domestic experience in the T20 series against England.

"[We have] a new-look pace-bowling unit due to some unfortunate injuries. The Women's Premier League (WPL) and the domestic system have been instrumental in finding new talents," Mandhana stated.

"Considering the number of matches these girls play, they possess significant experience in the domestic format. I'm excited to see them perform. Young talent always brings excitement, and everyone has been preparing well. England is the perfect place for pacers to come and excel," she concluded.