A warm interaction between Smriti Mandhana and Indian women’s team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has delighted fans, evoking a sense of nostalgia. In their recent second ODI match against South Africa in Bengaluru, both Mandhana and Harmanpreet achieved centuries, leading India to a thrilling four-run victory. Notably, Mandhana also took her first ODI wicket by dismissing South Africa’s Sune Luus.
Following the match, Mandhana and Harmanpreet shared a light-hearted conversation during an interview, reminiscent of the camaraderie between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. In a video uploaded by a fan on X (formerly Twitter), Harmanpreet asked Mandhana, “What was your favourite moment in the game, the century or the wicket?” Mandhana humorously responded, “First you tell me, what was yours?”
When the two centurions end up talking about the ‘Bowler of the Day’ 😎
A post-match chat full of smiles ft. Captain @ImHarmanpreet & Vice-captain @mandhana_smriti 👌👌 – By @mihirlee_58
Full Conversation 🎥🔽 #TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank https://t.co/GIZpa0omib pic.twitter.com/eUz2PY85kY
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 20, 2024
This endearing exchange has sparked numerous reactions from cricket enthusiasts. Many fans highlighted the similarity to the bond between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, with one commenting, “Thala and King,” referring to the affectionate nicknames of Dhoni and Kohli.
Two pillars of Indian women cricket
— Paramdeep Singh (@Param_Sidhu77) June 20, 2024
We have seen this before
— Abhay 🍕 (@KaunHaiAbhay) June 20, 2024
Thala and king 🔥😍
— LegalMemer (@LegalMemer_) June 20, 2024
2 desi girls rocking in cricket pic.twitter.com/dBoT91pNTT
— Mr Shelby (@mrshelby101) June 20, 2024
THE BOND OF NUMBER 7 🤝 NUMBER 18
— Ujjawal Bhai (@sonuujjawal26) June 20, 2024
During the interview, Harmanpreet revealed Mandhana’s persistent requests to bowl. “In the last batting camp that we attended, all of us did a lot of bowling. Since then, she has been constantly asking me to give her an over. She promised that if she got a wicket, she would run across the whole ground. But she only managed to celebrate halfway because she got tired,” the Indian skipper recounted.
ALSO READ: BCCI Set to Appoint Next Head Coach: Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman Lead the Race
Mandhana then took the microphone to discuss the dedication and practice required for each game. She asked Harmanpreet, “You came to bat this morning. People only see the match—they criticise when we get out and appreciate when we perform well. But the hard work behind the scenes often goes unnoticed. So, coming early and batting for an hour during practice, how important was that?”
Harmanpreet Kaur concurred, emphasizing the value of the practice session in boosting her confidence. “Yeah, I think when I came in the morning to bat for an hour, it did give me a lot of confidence,” she acknowledged.
WATCH – Nicholas Pooran’s Innovative Hand Signals Revolutionize Wicketkeeping
With India leading the ODI series 2-0, they are set to face South Africa in the final match on Sunday, June 23, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Fans eagerly anticipate another exciting encounter, hoping to see more memorable moments from the Indian cricket stars.
