After impressing one and all with her stellar show in last year’s ICC Women’s Cup and in the recently concluded ODI series against Proteas Women, India batswoman Smriti Mandhana is all set to prove her worth against the Southern Stars in the forthcoming three-match ODI series,  scheduled to start on Monday (March 12) in Vadodara.

Mandhana was in rollicking form in the three-match One-day International series against South Africa last month, scoring 84 in the first game before hitting her career-best 135 in the second match to help India seal the ODI series 2-1.

Speaking to bcci.tv, the 21-year-old talked about many aspect of her game. Smriti also stated that expectations and the burden of pressure never really gets to her head.

“When we got off after the World Cup I had to change a bit of my technique and get into open stance because lot of coaches told me that I am more of a off-side player. I used to watch the ball from one and a half eye because of my closed stance. So I went back to Sangli worked with my coach and tried to come open stance and it really helped me,” Mandhana told bcci.tv.

“People are expecting from you because you have done good things in the past. I think you should enjoy that pressure and actually we play cricket for ourselves, not to show people. I play cricket for myself, scoring or not scoring is for India. I think that is the real aim to make India win and other things don’t really matter,” she added.

Mandhana, who became the household name after some of her remarkable innings in ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, also shared the experience as how her life changed after the showpiece event in England.

“After the World Cup we all knew that everyone is going to watch us. Everyone has put in the hard work. Each team-member has put the hard work to get fit. Even I have worked hard with my fitness, gym and batting,” she said.

Mandhana concluded by talking about her ultimate ambition and her planning for the forthcoming bilateral ODI series against Australia.

“One ultimate goal for sure is to win the World Cup. Not one World Cup but definitely a lot of World Cups. But this year we have England and Australia coming in and there are like certain goals for the team, like ICC Champions Trophy. Hopefully, we win the matches and I contribute by giving a good start to the team and take the team through if I am set.

“It is right time for the women’s cricket to get limelight. I think we did well in the World Cup. If people will watch us it will motivate us to do much better,” Smriti Mandhana signed-off.

Watch the full interview here.