With 16 runs off the first over, Smriti Mandhana had set the 154-run chase on course in the second ODI against West Indies in Vijayawada. The left-handed bat sent a Tremayne Smartt delivery over mid-wicket for a six off the second ball of the innings.
There was no looking back from there as she took on the West Indies bowlers. “My game plan was whenever I get a loose ball to hit, I should hit it and play according to the merit of the ball. I got two free hits (which too was sent to fence). If you don’t hit the free hits, then I don’t think (what you can do with that opportunity).”
Speaking about her role at the top of the order, she said, “I don’t think I should be taking (thinking) a lot of (about the) responsibility (as) it will put a lot of pressure on me, but yes, in the last match we didn’t click as a top-order so this match I wanted to perform well. We had a very bad collapse the last time so as opener, it was my responsibility to get the team through first ten overs and then carry the chase forward. I was looking forward to doing that for my team.
“This is the way I bat normally (like the way I batted today). I play my natural game, play my strokes,” Mandhana said while talking about her free-flowing batting style. Her 62-ball 44 was peppered with six boundaries and a six.
While she lost opening partner MD Thirushkamini in the fourth over with the team on 23, she found an able ally in Deepti Sharma to set up a platform for the chase. Speaking about the No 3 bat, who had opened the innings for India in the previous game, but came one down once the regular opener was back in the side, she said, “Deepti batted really well and she eased off the pressure on me. All her shots were classic strokes so I enjoyed seeing her bat.
Discussing her approach further and the advise she received from her coach and captain, Mandhana says, “They don’t tell me a lot about how I should be planning (my innings) because whenever I start, I play my shots. I just play according to the merit of the ball. They tell me to play my natural game. If I don’t play my shots I will be putting myself under pressure.”
Speaking about her form and what was going through her mind after having scored only seven runs in the first match, she said, “I was in a good touch before the series. I had a good Challenger Trophy, a good domestic season. Just after one match, I shouldn’t be putting pressure on myself.”
Asked about the team’s approach going forward in the ICC Women’s Championship where they need crucial points for staying in reckoning for direct qualification for the World Cup in 2017 or then play the qualifier before that, Mandhana said, “I don’t think that much. (However) I think the team and I would have the same approach. We won’t be casual because we have already won the series. These points are important because we don’t know yet what is going to happen ahead. We will try to make sure that the West Indies also don’t qualify (hold them back and keep their position precarious).”
