Latest news with #Mandhana
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Really excited to open with her again': Smriti Mandhana on Shafali Verma ahead of England series
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on Friday said that she was looking forward to opening the innings with Shafali Verma again with the latter making a comeback to the side for the England T20Is after having been out of reckoning in recent months. 'She's had an amazing year. Once the setback had come, she went to domestic (cricket), scored bucket loads of runs, had an amazing WPL and of course no one had any doubt about her talent, the way she had come into the Indian team and dominated,' Mandhana said in the pre-match press conference. 'She is a world-class player and always will be, but for her to go back and do what she did in the last one year was amazing to watch. She deserves this comeback and I'm really excited to open with her again,' she added. 🗣️🗣️ Shafali Verma is a word class player and deserves this comeback #TeamIndia vice-captain Smriti Mandhana ahead of the #ENGvIND T20I series opener tomorrow 👌👌@mandhana_smriti | @TheShafaliVerma — BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 27, 2025 Shafali was dropped last November after an inconsistent run in India colours, but has since been in stellar form in domestic cricket and had another solid season with the Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League. 'It's not easy to get over (being overlooked for selection). I didn't want to reveal because my father had a heart attack about two days before I got dropped from the team. I hid the news from him till he got better. He was in the hospital. I told him a week later,' Shafali had told The Indian Express in an interview. Mandhana, meanwhile, said she was only 'filling in' for Harmanpreet Kaur, who was not well enough to attend the pre-series press conference and expressed confidence that the regular captain will be available for the series opener. 'I don't think she's not playing; she's just unwell today. I am here just filling up (for Harmanpreet) today,' Mandhana said. Mandhana said coming to England with ample amount of time has helped them prepare better. 'We came in earlier here, a good eight days of prep, a few good practice matches (in which) we got to know a lot of things about England's conditions,' she said. '… Especially a lot of girls, it's their first England tour, so it was important for them to come here early and get used to the conditions. The preparation has been good leading up to the series.' (With agency inputs)
News18
19 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Massive Blow To India! Skipper Unwell Ahead Of Nottingham Match Vs England
Harmanpreet Kaur missed the pre-match press conference due to illness. Indian women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Friday missed the pre-match press conference ahead of the first T20I against England, as Smriti Mandhana confirmed that the former was unwell and hence couldn't attend the media interaction, adding that she might be available for the game. Mandhana said that she was just filling in for Harmanpreet, who wasn't well enough to attend the pre-match PC and expressed confidence that the latter will be available for the game. This will be Harmanpreet's first T20I this year. She scored 394 runs in 15 T20Is last year, at an average of 43.77. Beckenham 🚌 Nottingham #TeamIndia have arrived for the T20I series opener against England women 🙌 #ENGvIND — BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 27, 2025 'I don't think she's not playing; she's just unwell today. I am here just filling up (for Harmanpreet) today," Mandhana said while speaking at the pre-match press conference. Mandhana expressed confidence in the team's preparation after a 25-day camp in Bengaluru, which she said was targeted to prepare the cricketers for the England tour and the ODI World Cup in September. While India will host the tournament from September 30 to November 2, they will first take on England in a five-match T20I series, followed by three ODIs over the next few weeks. 'It's been a good 25 days of prep. We had batters and bowlers' camp at NCA, and that was also very targeted and very specific, keeping in mind this tour and the World Cup," Mandhana said. The star Indian batter said that coming to England with ample amount of time has helped them prepare better. 'We came in earlier here, a good eight days of prep, a few good practice matches (in which) we got to know a lot of things about England's conditions," Mandhana said. '… Especially a lot of girls, it's their first England tour, so it was important for them to come here early and get used to the conditions. The preparation has been good leading up to the series," Mandhana added. While the focus will be on how the side fares in ODI format, given the tournament in September, Mandhana acknowledged that the five T20Is will provide her side an opportunity to assess their game in these conditions.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Excited to open with Shafali Verma again': Smriti Mandhana confident as India eye strong start to England tour
Vice-captain expressed excitement about reuniting with Shafali Verma at the top of the order as India gear up for the five-match T20I series against England, starting Saturday. Backing the young opener's return to international cricket, Mandhana said Shafali's resurgence through domestic and WPL performances had been inspiring. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. 'She's had an amazing year. Once the setback had come, she went to domestic (cricket), scored bucket loads of runs, had an amazing WPL,' Mandhana said. 'Of course, no one had any doubt about her talent, the way she came into the Indian team and dominated. She is a world-class player and always will be. For her to go back and do what she did in the last one year was amazing to watch. She deserves this comeback and I'm really excited to open with her again. ' Poll How excited are you about Smriti Mandhana opening with Shafali Verma in the upcoming T20I series against England? Very Excited Somewhat Excited Neutral Not Excited India are coming off a 25-day preparation camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, aimed at fine-tuning both white-ball and red-ball skills for this crucial stretch of the calendar, which includes the home ODI World Cup later this year. Who'll Make it to the Playing XI for 2nd Test? | India's Nets Session in Birmingham 'It's been a good 25 days of prep. We had batters and bowlers' camp at NCA and that was also very targeted and specific keeping in mind this tour and the World Cup,' Mandhana noted during the pre-match press conference. With skipper unwell, Mandhana addressed the media but confirmed the captain is likely to be available for the opening game. Having reached England early and trained for over a week, Mandhana said the team had valuable time to adapt to conditions. 'A few good practice matches… especially for a lot of girls, it's their first England tour. So it was important to come early.' Mandhana also highlighted how the T20Is will help build towards the 2025 T20 World Cup, also scheduled in England. 'Five T20s in the same conditions just a year before the World Cup is perfect prep. It will be important to understand what suits each player's game here.'
Hans India
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Smriti Mandhana Becomes World No. 1 in ICC ODI Rankings After 6 Years
India women's cricket team vice-captain and star opener Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings. After a gap of six years, she has once again become the world's number one ODI batter, as per the latest rankings released by the ICC on Tuesday. Mandhana overtook South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who slipped to third place after scoring just 27 and 28 in the recent ODI series against the West Indies. As a result, Wolvaardt lost 19 rating points. Smriti Mandhana now holds the top position with 727 rating points, followed by England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt in second place with 719 points. Wolvaardt also has 719 points, but she is placed third due to tie-breaking criteria. This is the first time since 2019 that Mandhana has held the No. 1 ranking. Her rise follows a brilliant century in the final of the recent tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo. Among other Indian batters, Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur are ranked 14th and 15th, respectively. Meanwhile, the India Women's team is set to tour England later this month, where they will play five T20Is and three ODIs against the English side.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Smriti Mandhana reclaims top spot in ODI batting rankings
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday moved up to the top spot in ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time since 2019 after South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt lost 19 rating points in the latest update. Mandhana has a total of 727 rating points followed by England captain Natalie Sciver-Brunt at 719. Wolvaardt is now third with 719 points. The next two Indian batters in the list after Mandhana are Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who are placed 14th and 15th respectively. India and England are set to face off in five T20Is and three ODIs later this month. While Mandhana has sat inside the top 10 on the list for ODI batters in recent times, the left-hander hasn't held the premier position since the start of 2019 as a drought of more than six years comes to an end. The India opener has been in excellent touch of late and scored a superb century during the final of India's recent tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo. Mandhana is also ranked fourth in the list of batters in T20Is. It was Mandhana's 11th ODI century of her career and contributed to the left-hander improving her rating past Wolvaardt, who managed scores of 27 and 28 in South Africa's recent ODI contests against the West Indies.
