WHEN YOU PLAY FOR INDIA, THERE ARE NO EXCUSES. YOU HAVE TO PREPARE WELL: SMRITI MANDHANA  

Smriti Mandhana. 

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup set to begin on October 3rd, anticipation is building as Team India gears up for their campaign in Dubai. Watch all the live action on Star Sports, the official broadcaster. Team India kicks off their World Cup journey on October 4th at 7:30 PM against New Zealand.

Ahead of the tournament, India opener Smriti Mandhana spoke to Star Sports about the team’s preparations, the challenges of playing in the heat, and the intense rivalries that define world cricket.

On Coping with Conditions and Preparing for Dubai Heat:

“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.”

On the Afternoon Game Against Pakistan:

“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.”

On the India-Pakistan Rivalry:

“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.”

On Facing Australia:

“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.”

On Opening with Shafali Verma:

“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.”

On Harmanpreet Kaur:

“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.”

On Cricketing Idol Growing Up:

“Growing up, my cricketing idols were Kumar Sangakkara and Meg Lanning.”

Catch all the action of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 from October 3 – 20, LIVE & Exclusive on Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar.