Smriti Mandhana Leads India to Unbeaten Group Stage Finish in Sri Lanka
India’s stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana emphasized not underestimating their semi-final opponents after an unbeaten group stage finish. India topped Group A with six points, defeating Nepal by 82 runs. Pakistan also advanced to the semi-finals. Mandhana praised Nepal’s resilience and highlighted the importance of game time for India’s middle order ahead of the knockout stage. She stressed the need for continuous improvement and preparation for the World Cup.
India’s Journey in the Group Stage
India began their campaign with a 7-wicket win over Pakistan, followed by a 78-run victory over the United Arab Emirates. They concluded the group stage with an 82-run win against Nepal.
Mandhana’s Thoughts on Nepal
Smriti Mandhana appreciated Nepal’s performance and their positive attitude. She hopes they continue to improve and play more often against India.
Middle Order’s Game Time
Mandhana was pleased to see India’s middle order getting valuable game time, which is crucial for their preparation for the World Cup. She emphasized the need for continuous improvement and fine-tuning post-WPL.
Doubts Revealed
Smriti Mandhana -: Smriti Mandhana is a famous Indian cricketer who plays for the Indian women’s national team. She is known for her excellent batting skills.
stand-in captain -: A stand-in captain is someone who temporarily takes the place of the regular captain. In this case, Smriti Mandhana is leading the team because the regular captain is not available.
semi-final -: A semi-final is a match that decides which teams will play in the final. It is one of the last rounds in a tournament.
group stage -: The group stage is the first part of a tournament where teams are divided into groups and play against each other to qualify for the next round.
Nepal -: Nepal is a country in South Asia, located between India and China. It has its own national cricket team.
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a neighboring country of India, and it also has a national cricket team that competes in international tournaments.
middle order -: In cricket, the middle order refers to the batsmen who bat after the top order. They usually come in to bat after the first few wickets have fallen.
knockout stage -: The knockout stage is the part of a tournament where teams play elimination matches. If a team loses, they are out of the tournament.
World Cup -: The World Cup is a major international cricket tournament where teams from different countries compete to be the world champions.
