Harmanpreet’s Knock Important For Team: Smriti
Queenstown, Feb 24: India batter Smriti Mandhana on Thursday said it was important from the team’s perspective that Harmanpreet Kaur found form ahead of the Women’s World Cup.
Harmanpreet registered her first fifty in almost a year to help India chase down 251 against New Zealand in the fifth and final ODI. Smriti, who missed the first three games due to New Zealand’s managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ), scored 71 to take the team in a better position before skipper Mithali Raj’s unbeaten 54 took India home.
“It was really important for the team. It was good to see her (Harmanpreet) playing all those shots she was playing,” said Smriti at the post-match virtual press conference. “I was just happy to watch that from the other end. For the team going into the World Cup, it was really important that both of us score and get confidence with all other batters.”
Smriti also revealed that she flew for New Zealand later unlike the team due to “personal problems” and that is why she completed the MIQ much later.
“It has been a tough month for us as a team and for the three of us who were in quarantine (Renuka Singh Thakur and Meghna Singh being the other two). It is good to be back in the open air, play some cricket and contribute for India.”
Although India prevented the clean sweep 1-4, their performance in the four ODIs and one-off T20I has not gone down well with their fans on social media. When asked how team is handling the criticism, Smriti said, “I think all the girls are really disconnected from the outside noise. Everyone was really positive when we joined the team later. All were keen to go out and work hard. This win is going to give us a boost.”
“We needed a good base to chase 250 and that is what were looking for. Batting first, we are getting good scores around 250. Of course we are not getting the wins. It is something we are working on, defending totals. “We will get better. That is the talk in the camp and I am sure it will happen in the World Cup,” said Smriti.
Talking about veteran speedster Jhulan Goswami, who didn’t feature in all games, Smriti said, “We need fresh legs going into the World Cup”.
“The bowlers did amazing today. Bowled as per plan. It was good to see. Overall in the series, it has been tough conditions to bowl in, flat wickets and good outfield. It took a while for them to figure how to bowl in these conditions. The bowling partnerships were amazing today, especially between 20-40 overs, something we were lacking.”
