Women’s World Cup T20 – Ind vs SL – Smriti Mandhana – ‘We are still better than what we were playing’

“The condition of the wicket and the conditions of the ground are very different from what we thought when we came here,” Mandhana, India’s vice-captain, said on Tuesday. “It depends on the state of the game, who we are playing, how the wicket is playing, and what points we are chasing. I think that is also a big consideration. I can’t say that everything was planned.”

Mandhana suggested that although the conditions in the UAE were difficult, the difference between batting in the afternoon game (against Pakistan) and the evening game (against New Zealand) was not that great, especially with dew becoming a big factor.

“Apart from the New Zealand game, we have never seen a team go over 140 in the whole tournament – 135-140 – be it a day game or a night game. It says a lot about the conditions,” he said, before the match. the start of Australia’s game on Tuesday when they reached 148. “I wouldn’t say it changes too much in terms of the wicket or the conditions, the outfield especially. Yes, the heat is too much.

“But yes, I think so [when] we got here, in the first two-three days, we felt very hot, but now I think it’s better. It sounds like conditions in India now. So it’s not as bad as we thought. Even in the last game we thought it would be hotter than it was when we played. I wouldn’t say it changes much. Definitely maybe 10 or 15 runs here and there depending on how you hit, but yeah, that’s about it.”

“I think the type of cricket we want to play, I can say that in the first game we couldn’t do that. Even in the second game, I can’t say we played 100% of our cricket.”

Smriti Mandhana

India’s thoroughness in beating Pakistan, in particular, has led to questions about whether they were thinking about the net run rate when the three teams in their group are tied for the top spot. Mandhana said that the points on the board are very important.

“That’s what’s important to us first,” he said. “I think it’s a balance between trying to figure out what’s best for the team. Yeah, in the last game, I got off to a good start, but then I bowled a few dot balls, which annoyed me a bit. But yeah, having said that, I think as batsmen we have to be really smart. We can’t just go out there thinking we’re going to go in. in this list of bowling and we will sail, because after all the conditions and the outdoor field are very different.

“So yes, I think we have to remember that run of the net, but the first thing is to win the game and then we continue to think about the value of the run of the net. Of course, the team is very difficult. .But it’s just the beginning, I think we don’t want to keep thinking too much about what will happen but one day, and then. [against Sri Lanka] there is a place where we are thinking about net run-rate, yes we will be trying to find it first. But I think winning is the most important thing.”

Before the tournament, it was thought that the Asian teams would find the conditions in Dubai and Sharjah to their liking, rather than New Zealand, who beat India well in their tournament.

“I am sure that the first match did not go as we planned. But, having said that, we cannot escape from taking that responsibility that we did not go up to play good cricket that day,” Mandhana. said. “As a batting unit, as a bowling unit, I think we just couldn’t do it. We had one bad day where sometimes you just come and want to do everything but you can’t get over the line.

“Having said that, I don’t think it’s only Asian teams who can adapt. I’m sure other teams don’t have 170 goals.

“But yes, I think the type of cricket we want to play, I can say that in the first game we couldn’t do that. Even in the second game, I can’t say we played 100% of our cricket. I’m sure we’re still better than what we were playing. In these situations, you have to understand your cricket well, he is very smart, and he knows what shots to play and what shots to play, which is the difference between Asian teams and other teams.”