Injury scare haunts Smriti Mandhana yet again during WWC opener

Hard-hitting Indian opener Smriti Mandhana had an absolute fun time at the crease with the bat recently. Playing in their opening game of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, the Indian team were up against the tournament favorites England Women. In order to overhaul the mighty English spirit, a knock of substance was needed by the Indian team. It was very well provided by the left handed bat Smriti Mandhana.

Mandhana opened the innings with Punam Raut and the two women scored runs at will to keep the English bowlers waiting. While Punam Raut took her time to settle in, Mandhana was brisk in her approach with the bat. She hit a quick 90 off just 72 deliveries with 11 fours to her name to go with 2 towering maximums.

She added a marathon 144 run opening stand with Raut that came off mere 161 balls. Well, things looked to be sublime for Mandhana with the bat. In the field, she had contrasting fortunes. During the 16th over of the English innings, she put in a diving effort while fielding at the fine leg position.

She was seen in some serious discomfort and pain right away as she stretched her knee over the boundary ropes. The play halted for a brief while as she needed immediate medical attention. The 20-year old southpaw had to limp off the field subsequently. While many might wonder that things might not be a big issue with the knee injury, it certainly has come as a haunting for Smriti Mandhana.

Knee injury in WBBL

It is the same knee that got injured yet again on which she was operated 6 months ago. Mandhana had suffered an ACL tear in the knee when she was bowling for the Brisbane Heat in the second edition of the WBBL in Melbourne earlier this year. The injury saw her being out of action for almost 6 months.