Mandhana and Shafali Verma to open for India in the first T20I against South Africa.
India Women’s T20I vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on Friday (March 19) revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are in talks over Indian women's players participating in The Hundred Women's Competition in 2021.
She further said Indian Women players’ participation in The Hundred, which will feature eight teams with each squad will have 15 women players, will highly be depending upon the scheduled teams as their first priority will be India matches. She also said the players don’t have updates regarding the same.
Mandhana said in a virtual press conference on the eve of 1st T20I against South Africa: “I think ECB is in talks with BCCI but we don't have an update yet. It will highly be depending upon the schedule teams have because our first priority will be India matches. BCCI and ECB are working towards it and let's hope to hear something out around Hundred from them soon.”
On being asked if she will continue to open with Shafali Verma against South Africa Women, the star cricketer said: “As of now, we both together have had good partnerships in last two years so we are looking at the same combination.”
Mandhana has admitted that the spinners are India’s biggest strength over the years, but in the recent ODI series, they failed to impress at all and she feels the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa will offer the best opportunity to focus on the right areas.
She signed off by saying, “Spinners are our biggest strength for the longest of the time. India has done well in a couple of years thanks to the spinners. I think in the T20Is with four overs, it will be easier for them to focus on just 24 balls rather than 60 balls.”
The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Ekana Cricket Stadium on Saturday followed by the second and final game on 21 and 23 March at the same venue in Lucknow.
(With ANI Inputs)