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October 11, 2024
Stationed at the long-off boundary, Inoshi Priyadarshini was having an eventful day. After a cautious start, Smriti Mandhana found her rhythm. She welcomed Chamari Athapaththu into the attack with an impressive inside-out shot over extra cover. Priyadarshini sprinted in to intercept the ball before it crossed the boundary, saving two runs thanks to the 72-meter distance.
After a missed sweep, Mandhana struck again, dancing down the track to hit another inside-out shot over extra cover for another two runs, prompting Priyadarshini to dash in again. Athapaththu, known for her tactical prowess, adjusted her field by bringing in the mid-off fielder and moving Priyadarshini to sweeper cover. The Sri Lankan captain then bowled a loopy off-break, hoping to tempt Mandhana. Instead, the left-hander charged and effortlessly lofted the ball over the mid-off fielder’s head. This time, Priyadarshini’s sprint to long-off couldn’t prevent the boundary.
In India’s crucial Group A match against Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai, there was no better example of strategic play and experience than Smriti Mandhana’s performance. Athapaththu’s first over conceded 10 runs, with Mandhana scoring nine.
Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera used all her experience to secure a wicket in a challenging matchup against the left-handed Mandhana. She slowed the pace of her deliveries, but Mandhana expertly shuffled in and swept the ball behind square for two runs. The 72-meter boundary allowed Sri Lanka enough time to cut it off, limiting the score to two.
Noticing Mandhana’s early movement to the off-side, Ranaweera adjusted her strategy by pulling out of her delivery stride. When she attempted to bowl again, Mandhana cleverly backed away just as Ranaweera reached her bowling crease, showcasing her ability to play mind games. Ranaweera returned to her mark with a sheepish smile, but the umpire called it a wide when she threw the ball more expansive. At that moment, it was clear that Mandhana was gaining the upper hand in their psychological battle.
These mini-battles were the most thrilling aspect of systematically dismantling Sri Lanka’s spin attack. At the center of it all was a player who had previously struggled against spin bowling, especially off-spinners. Transforming her biggest weakness into a strength required countless hours of dedicated practice, even outside national camps. Balancing her time between her hometown of Sangli and the commercial engagements in Mumbai, Mandhana remained committed to her training routines.
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To prepare for facing spin bowlers, Smriti Mandhana immersed herself in match-like scenarios by working with a larger group to replicate field settings typically encountered by left-handers. She spent countless hours batting against various types of bowlers—slower and faster off-spinners and even throw-downs—using old and new balls from around and over the wicket. This extensive practice aimed to build her confidence and muscle memory by exhausting every possible batting combination.
Mandhana chose challenging pitches in her hometown of Sangli and rented ones in Mumbai to simulate the harsh batting conditions she might face in matches. This rigorous training on complex surfaces allowed her to develop the skills necessary to dominate bowlers.
Part of her preparation also involved mastering a wide range of shots and learning when to use them effectively. Under the guidance of Amol Muzumdar at a batting camp in Mumbai, she focused on improving her judgment, which helped her sustain her innings longer.
The results of her hard work were evident from the beginning of the South Africa home series, where she scored back-to-back ODI hundreds, including a remarkable 149 in a one-off Test. She finished India’s highest run-scorer in the rain-affected T20I leg of the multi-format series. Mandhana continued her impressive form in the Asia Cup, amassing 173 runs in four innings at an average of 57 and a strike rate of 137.30, ranking just behind Shafali Verma.
During the T20 World Cup in Dubai, players faced challenges due to the slow pitches, which tested their temperament more than their skills. After two initial failures, Smriti Mandhana focused on navigating the problematic conditions rather than forcing her game, scoring only 8 runs off her first 13 balls. However, she paced her innings exceptionally well, reaching a fifty off just 36 balls and helping India set the highest tournament total so far.
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Just before the match, Mandhana emphasized the importance of choosing the right shots, which she executed perfectly on the field. There were few premeditated strokes; instead, she adeptly used her footwork to disrupt Sri Lanka’s slower bowlers, scoring 39 of her 50 runs against them from 30 deliveries. This performance showcased her ability to dominate spin, contrasting her usual strategy of targeting pace while Shafali Verma handled the slower deliveries.
Mandhana and Verma built a solid 98-run partnership, with Mandhana supporting Verma during the middle overs after the opening powerplay. Their previous partnerships had faced criticism for their lack of boundaries and poor running. Still, on this occasion, their intent improved significantly. Both players struck regular boundaries from the third over onward, maintaining excellent strike rotation with only 13 dot balls between them in the powerplay. Even on their rest day, they had worked in the nets to refine their starts, demonstrating their commitment to enhancing their performance for this crucial match.
As it stands, Smriti Mandhana has scored 2,232 runs, making her the highest run-scorer for India in T20I victories. Alongside Shefali Verma, she now holds the record for the most partnerships of 50 runs or more in T20Is within a calendar year, achieving their seventh such partnership. Overall, they have formed 20 fifty-plus partnerships, tying with the Alyssa Healy-Beth Mooney duo. Their total 825 partnership runs in 2024 is the highest for any wicket.
Interestingly, a challenging tour of Sri Lanka in 2018 motivated Mandhana to enhance her performance against spin, a commitment that has paid off since then. Facing the same opposition and following their Asia Cup defeat just two months prior, Mandhana rose to the occasion when India’s World Cup aspirations were on the line.
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