Q&A: SMRITI MANDHANA
Smriti Mandhana, 23, is giving Indian male cricketers a run for their money. Having scored 2,000 ODI runs in just 51 matches, she has surpassed even Virat Kohli (53)
Q. Four 50s and a hundred in seven ODI innings this year, and the second-fastest Indian to get to 2,000 runs. What’s the one aspect of your game that you’ve got right? I think after the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup, I had to sit down and think about where I could improve. For the last two years, I’ve been really working on my shot selection because you don’t need to do anything fancy in the ODI format. And it’s coming along well. I’m also a very fidgety person, so I try to keep calm by concentrating on my breathing for 10 minutes before I go out these days.
Q. Which has been your favourite knock this year and why?
I think the 90 I scored against New Zealand in the second ODI. It was a very difficult wicket to bat on in Mount Maunganui and we had lost two early wickets. So, to get the team across the line was really good. Also, it’s very rare that I remain unbeaten!
Q. What is the need of the hour, keeping in mind the World T20 in February? We have just two months left and there’s a camp and series coming up. I need to maintain my fitness since it is really important in the T20 format. You can’t be drained physically or mentally. When it comes to batting, I don’t think I should be stressing about anything now because whenever I’ve done that, it has not worked for me. So, I would simply like to be in great touch before going to the World Cup.
Q. You’ve been a Hrithik Roshan fan since an early age. Where would you take him on a dream date? I really love cold places, so somewhere in the mountains in the north for dinner.