Smriti Mandhana Acknowledges Mistakes in Shot Choices

India faced a narrow four-run defeat to England in Indore, with Smriti Mandhana shouldering much of the responsibility. Mandhana, who played a pivotal role in the chase scoring an impressive 88 until the 42nd over, lamented her poor shot selection when an attempted lofted shot resulted in her dismissal, a decision she regretted throughout the game.

“I aimed for a shot over covers and mistimed it,” Mandhana admitted. In this crucial match, with semi-final positions at stake, she acknowledged that emotions influenced her decision-making at a critical moment. Mandhana accepted responsibility for the late-game collapse, attributing it to her premature shot decision which gave England the upper hand. “I needed more patience; I kept reminding myself to avoid aerial shots, but emotions got the best of me, which is never beneficial in cricket.”

“The collapse initiated with me, so I take accountability for the shot selection. We only needed six runs per over; perhaps the game should have been prolonged. The collapse began with my dismissal, and I acknowledge that responsibility. “

When Mandhana was out, India required just 55 runs off 52 balls with six wickets remaining. With Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma at the crease, Mandhana believed India could secure the chase, but unfortunately, poor shot selections in the latter part of the innings led to the defeat.

“Our shot selections could have been more strategic. Despite my confidence that we would win, cricket is unpredictable, and one can never be too certain,” Mandhana reflected.

Discussing the clear roles within the Indian team, Mandhana emphasized that the finishing task should not solely rest on Ghosh. She pointed out that the run-rate was manageable, and the lower-order batsmen could have completed the chase. “It’s not just on Richa Ghosh; with a required rate of 6.5 per over, it was a feasible task. We’ve seen other players like Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana excel in finishing roles before, so it’s a collective responsibility for us to improve in the final overs.”

Before the match, India made a strategic change by excluding Jemimah Rodrigues for Renuka Singh Thakur to strengthen their bowling options. Mandhana explained that previous games against Australia and South Africa demonstrated the limitations of relying on only five bowlers. However, she clarified that such decisions would depend on the situation and pitch conditions.

“With only five bowlers, we’re at a disadvantage, particularly if a bowler has a tough day. This call was difficult, especially to bench a player like Jemi, but it was essential for balancing the team. It won’t always be the approach, but it was necessary for this match. We’ll continue to assess the conditions and adjust accordingly,” Mandhana stated.

Looking forward, India is set to play a critical game against New Zealand on Thursday (October 23) in Navi Mumbai, with both teams vying for a semi-final spot. Mandhana emphasized the importance of learning from their recent challenges and delivering their best performance against New Zealand.

“Cricket is full of ups and downs. You don’t play expecting easy days; it’s about learning from the tough ones. We know where we faltered and aim to bring our best against New Zealand, taking lessons from our setbacks,” Mandhana concluded.