'Lot of emotions involved, but it's not like the players don’t talk to each other' - Smriti Mandhana on India-Pakistan rivalry

With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup set to begin on October 3, anticipation is building as India gear up for their campaign in Dubai. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led unit will commence the campaign on October 4 against New Zealand. 

Ahead of the tournament, India opener Smriti Mandhana spoke to Star Sports about the team’s preparations, the challenges of playing in the heat, and the intense rivalries that define world cricket.B

With the tournament shifted to UAE owing to the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh, the original host of the event, the players will have an added challenge of coping with conditions and preparing for the heat. Mandhana admitted the task is not easy but expressed confidence and her and the Indian team’s ability to sail through.

Coping with Dubai heat

“It hasn’t been easy. Coming from India, we are somewhat used to the heat compared to other teams, but the first couple of days were really tiring. I’m sure by the time we reach our first match, we’ll be better adjusted to the conditions. The preparation has been really good. We had an amazing camp in Bangalore before coming to Dubai, where we tried to cover all bases. Now, it's just about fine-tuning everything before we get going."

The marquee India-Pakistan clash is set to be an afternoon affair, set to be played on October 7 in Dubai. Mandhana revealed the team’s preparation and mindset before the crucial clash, stating that the players will get acclimatised to the conditions by the time that fixture arrives.

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Lot of emotion attached to India-Pakistan game

“The afternoon game is going to be a challenge due to the heat, but when you play for India, there are no excuses. You have to prepare well, and I think we have a couple of afternoon sessions lined up to help us get used to the conditions. By the time we face Pakistan, I’m sure we’ll be ready. Mentally, we need to stay strong and keep pushing, staying hydrated is key."

Asked what does the the India-Pakistan rivalry mean for her, Mandhana said: “I think the India-Pakistan rivalry is more about the emotions of the fans than anything else. It’s not like the players don’t talk to each other; it’s the emotions from both nations that make it so intense. For me, every World Cup match is special, and we put the same amount of effort into each game. But there’s definitely a lot of emotion attached to the India-Pakistan games.”

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Every game in World Cup is important

In addition to the the Pakistan encounter, all eyes will undoubtedly be on India’s clash against the reigning champions Australia, who have given multiple heartbreaks to India in the past at multi-team events.

“Every game in the World Cup is important, and you have to give your 100% in each one. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are strong teams, but with Australia, you know you can’t afford to make mistakes. You have to bring your best game on that particular day to get the better of them. There’s always excitement when facing Australia because they’re such a good team, and beating them is a great challenge,” Mandhana said.

Also Read: Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Australia, India headline star-studded Group A

It’s a lot of fun opening with Shafali Verma

Mandhana also shed light on her tuning with opening partner Shafali Verma and skipper Harmanpreet. “It’s a lot of fun opening with Shafali. The conversations between us are pretty funny. I hope the mic never catches them because they can be really random! We’ve been opening together for the last 2-3 years and know each other’s game really well. Many times, we don’t even need to talk; we can just communicate with gestures. There’s a great bond between us, and if we get going in the powerplay, it’s always good for the team,” she said.

Also read: From where I come, to play for our country is big honour for me: Shafali Verma

Amazing to be on this journey with Harmanpreet Kaur

“It’s been amazing to be on this journey with Harman since my debut. Over the last 8-9 years, we’ve seen how much women’s cricket has grown. One thing about Harman is that she’s always going to fight it out, no matter the situation. She’s fierce and always gives her best, and that’s something I admire. She’s not only a motivation for me but also for the younger players in the team."