What is wrong with Smriti Mandhana? India need their opening shot in the T20 World Cup

For most of the past two years, the rise of Indian women’s cricket has had one constant driving force, Smriti Mandhana. The elegant left-hander has been at the heart of several memorable victories, delivering when it mattered most and helping transform India into a true powerhouse on the global stage.

It’s no exaggeration to say that without Mandhana’s remarkable consistency and match-winning contributions, India’s triumph at the Women’s World Cup last year might never have happened, leaving the team still in search of their first ICC trophy.

With the glory of the ODI World Cup now a part of history, a new challenge awaits. India’s focus has shifted firmly to the Women’s T20 World Cup, a title that has remained frustratingly out of reach despite years of promise. India will once again need their world-class firing on all cylinders to finally conquer this frontier.

This is why Mandhana’s recent struggles have become a topic of discussion. The 2026 season didn’t turn out the way she’d hoped, and the editorial falls short of the high standards she set for herself. Her struggles were evident during the recently concluded T20I series against England where India slipped to a 1-2 defeat.

Few players affect India’s fortunes as profoundly as Mandhana. As the T20 World Cup approaches, getting their batting talisman back to her best could be key to India’s title ambitions.

JAK MANDHANA struggled for form

Mandhana’s numbers in this year’s T20Is reflect a batter looking for his best touch. She managed 231 runs in nine matches at an average of 28.87, figures well below the standards she has set over the years. Her only outstanding performance came in the series decider against Australia in Adelaide, where she made a match-winning 82.

After this knock, Mandhana often looked promising at the crease but failed to convert her starts into the substantial scores India expected from her.

The contrast with last year’s English tour is particularly striking. In 2025, Mandhana enjoyed one of the best phases of her T20I career, becoming only the second Indian to score a T20I century and finishing the series with 221 runs at an average of 44.20.

However, when India returned to England a year later, the left-hander endured a tough campaign, scoring just 40 runs at an average of 13.33. Her struggles were summed up in the opening T20I when Lauren Bell dismissed her for a golden duck. It was the first time an Indian batsman was dismissed off the very first ball of a T20I innings.

Mandhana also failed to make a significant impact in a warm-up match against the ECB Development Women’s XI, she scored 21. With the T20 World Cup just over a week away, her form remains a major concern for India. A return to her best would not only strengthen India’s top order but also provide an ideal platform for the middle order to play with more freedom and purpose.

THE PROMISE OF A STRONG RETURN

India’s concerns about the T20I opener are not limited to Smriti Mandhana himself. Her long-time batting partner Shafali Verma also endured a tough run in the recently concluded series against England. In three matches, Shafali managed just 35 runs at an average of 11.66, underscoring that India’s struggles at the top of the order have been a collective affair rather than an individual dip in form.

Despite the lean patch, Mandhana remained optimistic about the pair’s ability to bounce back. She acknowledged the shortcomings of England’s series and stressed that both she and Shafali are determined to turn things around and rediscover their rhythm at the top of the order.

“For me and Shifu, we definitely time the ball well, but unfortunately we’re not able to contribute much to the team. But for both of us, we’re going to go back to the net, continue to work hard and make sure we come back stronger as the opening pair because we both pride ourselves on serving good starts and keeping the pace going.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that in this series,” said Mandhana after the series ended.

With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, India still have a short window to fine-tune their combinations. The upcoming warm-up matches against West Indies and England will be crucial for both Mandhana and Shafali to find form, rebuild confidence and bring momentum to the marquee clash against Pakistan.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

04 Jun 2026 08:35 IST