Ready to captain India: Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana (AP Photo) Few sights in women’s cricket are as comforting for India as Smriti Mandhana in full swing. The elegant left-hander was at her best in India’s historic Test triumph at Lord’s, scoring two half-centuries to help script a memorable win over England. In an interview with TOI, the 29-year-old spoke about India’s landmark victory at Lord’s, the lessons learned from repeated T20 World Cup disappointments, the impact of the WPL and why she feels ready to captain India if and when the opportunity arises. excerpts…What did it mean to be a part of India’s first ever Test for women at Lord’s and make a significant contribution to the victory?It was amazing to be part of the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s and more importantly to win it. It was special to contribute to India’s historic victory. As kids we all dreamed of playing Test cricket, so doing it at Lord’s made it even more memorable.Yastika Bhatia thanked you for helping her recover from ACL surgery. what did you say to herAny knee injury is extremely challenging for a player. In Yastika’s case, it happened before a home World Cup, which made it even more difficult. I told her how my own ACL injury in 2017 had helped me grow as a person and as an athlete. After that setback came one of my best crickets. I felt she would connect with it and stay motivated throughout the rehabilitation process.Why do you think India left the T20 World Cup early?It is important to reflect and learn from mistakes. Unfortunately, we have not learned enough from our past mistakes and continue to repeat them. Going forward, there needs to be a clear plan for the T20 World Cup in 2028, how we want to approach the format and what we need to do as a team.There was speculation about a change of captain. Are you ready to lead India if asked?Yes, of course. i’m readyAfter four seasons in the WPL, India’s T20 results have not improved significantly. Has the league provided enough Indian talent?I think the WPL has produced a lot of new talent and a few players have made the national team. However, I feel that they have not always been used to their best ability.You led RCB to back-to-back WPL titles. What is your management philosophy?For me, the most important thing is to create a positive team culture. Every player should feel comfortable to express themselves and be who they are. When people feel valued and trusted, they tend to perform better.You played in big tournaments all the time. Do big events bring out the best in you?It was a work in progress. Over the last few years, I have felt much more at ease in cricket, be it a big tournament or a bilateral series. That calm helped me focus on doing my job for the team.As India’s leading batsman, do you feel burdened by expectations?We have a lot of quality batsmen in this team. Whenever you pick up the bat for India, there is pressure to help your team win. But I enjoy the pressure. After all, what’s the fun of playing sports if there’s no pressure?What role has ICC chairman Jay Shah played in the growth of women’s cricket?Jay sir is responsible for the progress that women’s cricket has achieved not only in India but also globally.