India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on Saturday mentioned the just-concluded ladies’s ODI sequence towards Australia was extra about testing mixtures and weaknesses of her crew forward of the upcoming World Cup than the end result itself, and the 1-2 sequence loss was not a setback.
India had an opportunity to script historical past with a maiden bilateral sequence win over Australia after levelling the three-match contest, however a 43-run defeat within the decider right here dashed these hopes.
“This sequence for us was about getting a number of proper mixtures and issues. Australia is a good opposition to check ourselves by way of the place we’re missing,” Mandhana mentioned on the post-match convention.
“So I wouldn’t say that we are going to consider this sequence as a confidence booster or one thing which didn’t actually work, that the arrogance will go low. Nevertheless it was a great sequence by way of understanding our strengths and understanding the place we’re missing.” Fielding, nonetheless, remained a obvious concern. After displaying sharp work in England earlier this yr, India had been sloppy towards Australia, dropping over 12 catches throughout three video games. Mandhana admitted the inconsistency.
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“I imply for certain there’s a number of distinction within the fielding. Fielding half is one factor which I imply as a crew we’re on an increase however we additionally really feel that some days there are days the place we appear to be a unique fielding facet than the others.
“We have to discover the consistency within the crew by way of fielding as a unit collectively and never particular person brilliance, in order that’s one factor which we thought that we have now to handle earlier than the World Cup,” she added.
Mandhana herself loved a prolific sequence, ending as the highest scorer with two centuries and a fifty. She shouldered a lot of India’s batting accountability, however dismissed the notion of over-reliance on her.
“Not likely,” she mentioned when requested if she felt the stress of carrying the batting.
“Everybody on this squad is a match-winner, not simply the XI however all 15. At any level, anybody can step up.
“In case you take a look at the final 12 months, we’ve posted 300-plus totals even once I acquired out early. That exhibits there isn’t a dependence on one participant. Pratika, Harleen, Jemimah, Harman — everybody has scored a whole lot within the final yr.” On Saturday, Mandhana produced a stunning 125 off 63 balls, laced with 17 fours and 5 sixes, to maintain India within the hunt for a report 413-run chase.
“I don’t know if it’s (my) greatest knock as a result of whenever you chase 413 you don’t have every other gear to play. By way of hitting sixes possibly sure.
“However I wouldn’t fee it greatest. Everytime you rating 100 and crew wins I imply that turns into a memorable knock.” Mandhana refused to disclose the mix India will go along with on the World Cup however conceded that the hosts might be versatile and make calls relying on the circumstances “We wouldn’t actually wish to reveal what the mix goes to be as a result of the World Cup continues to be 8-10 days away. However I wouldn’t say that we are going to have one explicit mixture, it will additionally rely rather a lot on the wicket.”
Printed on Sep 21, 2025