With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 set to begin on October 03, India’s opener Smriti Mandhana has spoken about the team’s preparations and the intensity of the IND-PAK rivalry.
With the tournament shifted to UAE owing to political tension in Bangladesh, the original hosts will face the challenge of adapting to UAE conditions.
Mandhana admitted that the task is not easy but seems to be confident in her and the Indian team’s ability to sail through.
“It hasn’t been easy. Coming from India, we are somewhat used to the heat compared to other teams, but the first couple of days were really tiring. I’m sure by the time we reach our first match, we’ll be better adjusted to the conditions.”
“The preparation has been really good. We had an amazing camp in Bangalore before coming to Dubai, where we tried to cover all bases. Now, it’s just about fine-tuning everything before we get going.”
Mandhana revealed the team’s preparation and mindset before the tournament stating that the players would get used to the conditions and heat by the time.
“The afternoon game is going to be a challenge due to the heat, but when you play for India, there are no excuses. You have to prepare well, and I think we have a couple of afternoon sessions lined up to help us get used to the conditions.”
“By the time we face Pakistan, I’m sure we’ll be ready. Mentally, we need to stay strong and keep pushing, staying hydrated is key.”
When asked about what the India-Pakistan rivalry means, she said, “I think the India-Pakistan rivalry is more about the emotions of the fans than anything else. It’s not like the players don’t talk to each other;”
“It’s the emotions from both nations that make it so intense. For me, every World Cup match is special, and we put the same amount of effort into each game. But there’s definitely a lot of emotion attached to the India-Pakistan games.”
In addition to the Pakistan encounter, all eyes will undoubtedly be on India-facing champions Australia, who had handed defeat to India in the past at multi-team events.
“Every game in the World Cup is important, and you have to give your 100% in each one. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are strong teams, but with Australia, you know you can’t afford to make mistakes.”
“You have to bring your best game on that particular day to get the better of them. There’s always excitement when facing Australia because they’re such a good team, and beating them is a great challenge,” Mandhana said.
She also shed light on opening with Shafali Verma and skipper Harmanpreet. “It’s a lot of fun opening with Shafali. The conversations between us are pretty funny. I hope the mic never catches them because they can be really random!”
“We’ve been opening together for the last 2-3 years and know each other’s game really well. Many times, we don’t even need to talk; we can just communicate with gestures. There’s a great bond between us, and if we get going in the powerplay, it’s always good for the team,” she said.
“It’s been amazing to be on this journey with Harman since my debut. Over the last 8-9 years, we’ve seen how much women’s cricket has grown.”
“One thing about Harman is that she’s always going to fight it out, no matter the situation. She’s fierce and always gives her best, and that’s something I admire. She’s not only a motivation for me but also for the younger players in the team.”
As per the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule, India will be playing their women’s T20 World Cup 2024 first match against New Zealand on October 04 at Dubai International Stadium.
