New Delhi, October 20 (Udaipur Kiran): Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana admitted responsibility for India’s narrow four-run defeat against England in their Women’s World Cup 2025 league match in Indore. Mandhana, who played a brilliant knock of 88 runs, said her mistimed shot in the 42nd over turned the match in England’s favour.
“I was trying to hit that shot over covers, but it got mistimed. I should have shown a bit more patience,” Mandhana said after the match. “Throughout my innings, I kept telling myself not to play in the air, but perhaps emotions got the better of me — and that never helps in cricket.”
Mandhana acknowledged that her dismissal triggered India’s batting collapse. “The fall of wickets began with me, and I take full responsibility for that. We needed only six runs per over. Maybe we should have taken the game a bit deeper,” she added.
When Mandhana got out, India required 55 runs off 52 balls with six wickets in hand. Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma were at the crease, but the team faltered under pressure. “I thought we would win, but cricket is unpredictable. Our shot selection as a team could have been better,” Mandhana said.
Refusing to put the blame solely on Richa Ghosh for finishing the game, Mandhana noted, “We needed only 6.5 runs per over, so it wasn’t a huge pressure situation. Amanjot and Sneh Rana have performed well in the final overs before. It was a collective responsibility — all of us could have handled the final overs better.”
India made one key change in the match, bringing in Renuka Singh Thakur in place of Jemimah Rodrigues. Mandhana explained that the decision was taken to strengthen the bowling lineup. “Playing with just five bowlers is risky, especially if one has an off day. So, we felt the need for an extra bowler,” she said.
Looking ahead, Mandhana emphasized that the team will focus on bouncing back in their next match against New Zealand on October 23 in Navi Mumbai — a crucial contest for India’s semi-final hopes. “There are no easy days in cricket. We have to accept tough moments and move forward. We know where we went wrong and will aim to give our best against New Zealand,” she said confidently.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.