A remarkable batting collapse after Smriti Mandhana’s record-breaking half-century led to India Women’s unexpected loss to New Zealand in the first T20I at Wellington on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 160, India was on the way of winning the game till Mandhana was at the crease but as soon as she was dismissed for 58 off 34 balls, the others batters had no clue what’s happening as the team go bundled out for 136, losing the match by 23 runs.
After the game, Mandhana made her debut on the popular show of BCCI, Chahal TV, hosted by men team’s spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. The latest episode began with Chahal cheekily asked Mandhana whether she was inspired by his batting performance during the fourth ODI of the recently-concluded five-match series in New Zealand.
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Smriti also revealed that her first choice was No. 7 – a number that MS Dhoni wears in the Indian team – but since it was unavailable, she took up No. 18 after being advised by the team manager. She explained, “I wanted number 7 on the back of my jersey. My roll number at school was 7. But someone else had already taken 7. Vikas sir, our team manager, then suggested me to take 18 (Virat Kohli’s jersey number). I knew it only a couple of years ago that Virat also has been playing with 18 on the back of his jersey,”
Here is the video of the same:
https://twitter.com/videos_shots/status/1093423602987220992
Mandhana jokingly replied that she was inspired after watching Chahal bat in New Zealand and he is one of her inspirations when it comes to batting.
Mandhana said, “Yes, yes. I was inspired a lot after seeing you bat in the 4th ODI (vs New Zealand in Hamilton). I felt like I have to develop my game. You’re one my inspirations when it comes to batting.”
Meanwhile, Mandhanaalso took a dig over the repeated Indian women team’s middle-order collapses, humorously saying that she needs to bat till 20 overs to finish the games for India.
WATCH – MS Dhoni Running Away From Being On Chahal TV
Smriti further added, “Practically, I would say I have to bat till 20 overs, that is the best option. The more I bat till 18 overs, we won’t collapse because if the top three or 4 batters can bat till the 18-20th overs then rest can revolve around them, so tactically that is what I will try to do.”
Both the women’s and men’s Indian teams will lock horns with their New Zealand counterparts for the second T20I at the Eden Park in Auckland on February 8.
