New Delhi: The Indian women’s cricket team has departed for England ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup. The squad, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, enters the tournament with significant confidence following their victory in the ODI World Cup held at home last November. A recent series win against Australia has contributed to their momentum for this major event scheduled for next month.
Senior batter Smriti Mandhana expressed optimism regarding the team’s readiness and competitive spirit prior to their departure. “For sure, we would like to continue the good form that we’ve had, especially after our success in the 50-over format at the World Cup. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) also provided many players with valuable experience, along with the T20 series in Australia,” Mandhana stated in an interview with the ICC.
Mandhana emphasized the importance of a strong start but noted the team’s determination, saying, “I feel more than anything, we are really hungry. Everyone looks very hungry in terms of doing the right things.”
India’s batting identity in T20 cricket has significantly evolved, displaying increased aggression through the middle and lower order. Players such as Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, and Shafali Verma are contributing to a more dynamic approach to innings. Harmanpreet Kaur’s established attacking style has bolstered this shift.
Mandhana highlighted the positive impact of the batting depth on the team’s strategy. “As a batter at the top of the order, I feel great knowing we have so many power hitters later in the lineup. We can take our time. Traditionally, this has not been a strength for the Indian team; however, it’s now turning into one, especially with players like Shafali and Richa. Harman has been doing this for a long time, and even Jemimah and I know how to maintain a similar strike rate,” she noted.
