- ‘The more the merrier’ – Smriti Mandhana backs India’s bowling depth ahead of Champions Trophy. Indian ctain Smriti Mandhana has praised the team’s bowling performance in the Zimbabwe series and stressed the importance of variety in the team’s preparation for the Women’s Champions Trophy.
- ‘The more the merrier’ – Smriti Mandhana backs India’s bowling depth ahead of Champions Trophy (Source: BCCI) India defeated Zimbabwe by 92 runs in Raipur on Tuesday to secure a 3-0 win in the T20I series that began on October 16.
- The series offered Smriti Mandhana her first outing as a full-time member of India and provided an opportunity to test combinations and player roles ahead of major tournaments.
‘The more the merrier’ – Smriti Mandhana backs India’s bowling depth ahead of Champions Trophy. Indian ctain Smriti Mandhana has praised the team’s bowling performance in the Zimbabwe series and stressed the importance of variety in the team’s preparation for the Women’s Champions Trophy.
‘The more the merrier’ – Smriti Mandhana backs India’s bowling depth ahead of Champions Trophy (Source: BCCI) India defeated Zimbabwe by 92 runs in Raipur on Tuesday to secure a 3-0 win in the T20I series that began on October 16. The series offered Smriti Mandhana her first outing as a full-time member of India and provided an opportunity to test combinations and player roles ahead of major tournaments. During the series, Mandhana used the games to strategically change his batting order.
After problems with the top order in the opening game and the middle order running out of batting opportunities in the second game, the club decided to bat first in the third game to give the middle order some playing time. This rotation strategy ensured that different batting units were given plenty of time in the middle of the series. “In the first game we couldn’t get going again – even the top order – and in the second game [the middle order] didn’t get a chance to beat, so it was always good to get some game time and always good to be a few points behind us,” Mandhana was quoted as saying.
Strengthening bowling depth for Champions Trophy The Zimbabwe series introduced several players to India’s bowling resources. Nandani Sharma took six wickets, Kranti Gaud three and Niki Prasad three during the series. Mandhana used a total of six individual bowlers across the three games, demonstrating the range of oons available to the group.
Niki Prasad and Shafali Verma were among those given opportunities to bowl during the series. Shafali Verma has been contributing off-spin and bowling for Haryana since 2021, adding another dimension to India’s bowling attack. Dealing with different situations and playing conditions has proven valuable in the team’s preparation.
“It [Bowlingoons] definitely looks good. We all watched as the dew played its part again. There will be a lot of dew over the next three months as we get closer to the Champions Trophy. The type of combination we need and the bowlers – the more the better.
I am really hpy and satisfied with the way Niki, Shafali and everyone else contributed to it,” said Mandhana. The first six-team Women’s Champions Trophy will be played in Mumbai and Vadodara from February 14 to 28 next year. The conditions during the Zimbabwe series, particularly the presence of dew during the evening games, are likely to be similar to those faced by the teams in the Champions Trophy.
Mandhana’s spin strategy and emphasis on bowling depth during the series showed that India is prepared for the upcoming tournament.
