Smriti Mandhana said that the upcoming months going into the 2022 Women’s World Cup will be a crucial period for India.
India will be facing Australia later this year where they play three ODIs, three T20Is and a day-night Test. (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mandhana said that India need to consistently put up scores in excess of 260 batting first
- She also said that they can become more consistent in their bowling and fielding
- The 2022 World Cup is scheduled to be held from March 4 to April 3 next year in New Zealand
India women’s opener Smriti Mandhana said that the team needs to improve its batting significantly in ODIs going into the 2022 Women’s World Cup. Mandhana said that India have to try and score in excess of 260 runs consistently batting first.
“We have to work on a lot of things, especially in the batting department. Going forward, the next seven months will be really crucial,” Mandhana said in a virtual press conference. “We have to start putting up good scores. If I talk about the ODI format, we have to start posting 250-260-plus scores consistently while batting first, that’s something we have to work on.”
“And of course, our bowling and fielding can get consistent. We are probably one good performance (away) and then becoming okay, so I think we can be consistent in that department as well,” said Mandhana.
The 2022 World Cup is scheduled to be held from March 4 to April 3 next year in New Zealand. India’s next assignment will be in Australia, where they play three ODIs, three T20Is and one day-night Test over the course of September and October.
“Next seven months will be very crucial to get ourselves ready before the World Cup (in New Zealand). Of course, the Australia series will also going to be big in terms of preparations for the World Cup,” said Mandhana.
India presently go into the third T20I against England with a chance to win the series after a heartening performance in the second match helped them level the rubber 1-1. Mandhana said that she and opening partner Shafali Verma, who turned heads with her performance in the one-off Test against England earlier, need to work on staying in the middle for longer periods in T20Is.
“For about two years now, I’ve been opening with her in the T20 format. It’s really exciting to open with her in all the three formats. We know each other, have conversations. It really helps especially in T20 format. But we have to work on how to carry on till 15-16th over.
“We have had discussions about the middle overs and death overs and how we can get better. Losing wickets too many at a time puts a break in run-rate and puts pressure on the new batters. It has happened in previous formats as well. We all have understood our mistakes and will hope to rectify them,” she said.
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