NOTTINGHAM: Indiaβs stand-in captain, Smriti Mandhana, is looking for more success after blazing her way to her first T20I century during the series opener against England in Nottingham.
Mandhana, who served as the stand-in skipper in the absence of injured Harmanpreet Kaur, led from the front as India kicked off the series with a thumping 97-run victory. With her flamboyant batting skills on display, Mandhana hammered 112 from 62 deliveries to power India to a daunting 210/5 in the first innings.
Despite her record-shattering display, Mandhana revealed that T20Is donβt naturally come to her due to her preference for timing over power-hitting. After getting a taste of striking a high score and breaking records, the 28-year-old southpaw is now aiming to replicate high-scoring performances in the future.
ππ’π§ππ©π πππ£ππππ£π π π ππππππ£ π20π π¨πππ©ππ π° ππͺπ‘π‘ π πΏπππ’ππ π! π
Watch #ENGWvINDW 1st T20I β LIVE NOW on #SonyLIV π² pic.twitter.com/hWLv6rIA90
β Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) June 28, 2025
βItβs a nice feeling because, of course, this format is something which, for me as a batter, I need to keep pushing and keep improving. Itβs not a very natural format for me because I like to time the ball, not a big hitter of the ball, and for the last six years, itβs always a work in progress, and itβs still a work in progressβ, she said as quoted by the ICC.
βSo, to actually get a hundred in this format, of course, getting it before in Test cricket and One Day cricket, which are more suited to my batting [was significant as well], but getting it in this format is pretty special because itβs not one of my strengths. I mean, the improvement, and Iβm trying to work a lot on my power hitting and to see that come through, which is a really nice feelingβ, she added.
In the series opener, young Shafali Verma returned to the Indian setup for the first time after being dropped in late 2024. Her return didnβt begin on a sparkling note as she struggled for rhythm and returned to the dressing room with a scratchy knock of 20(22). Despite an unimpressive outing, Mandhana exuded confidence in the youngster.
βIβve seen Shafali bat in the last seven-eight days, [she did] amazingly well in the nets. So I donβt see a big knock is too far because of the way sheβs been hitting the ball. Sometimes, coming back into the Indian team and coming into the first match, of course, there are a different kind of nerves. Iβm sure this match is going to take those nerves away for her,β she said.
After taking a 1-0 lead, India will look to extend it in the second contest, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol. (ANI)
