Women's T20 WC: Smriti Mandhana opens up on India-Pakistan rivalry
Star batter Smriti Mandhana has shared her thoughts on the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan. This comes as the Indian cricket team prepares for the impending 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Mandhana emphasized that there is a lot of "emotion attached" to matches between these two nations. The Indian women's team arrived in the UAE last month for this global event which commences from October 3.
India's campaign and upcoming matches
India are set to kick off their T20 World Cup journey against New Zealand on October 4 at the Dubai International Stadium. A highly anticipated match against arch-rival Pakistan is scheduled for October 6 at the same venue. These games are part of a series of intense clashes that the Indian team will face in their quest for victory in this global tournament.
Mandhana's perspective on India-Pakistan rivalry
In a conversation with Star Sports, Mandhana offered her perspective on the India-Pakistan rivalry. She believes that it's the fans' emotions that fuel this intense competition. "I think the India-Pakistan rivalry is more about the emotions of the fans than anything else," she said. Despite acknowledging the heightened emotions surrounding these matches, Mandhana emphasized that every World Cup match holds special significance for her and her team.
Mandhana on facing Australia in T20 World Cup
When discussing the upcoming match against Australia, Mandhana stressed that the Indian team cannot afford any errors. "Every game in the World Cup is important, and you have to give your 100% in each one," she stated. She highlighted that facing Australia always brings excitement due to their strong performance, and beating them would be a significant achievement for any team.
India's performance in previous T20 World Cup editions
In the 2022 Women's T20 World Cup edition, India failed to reach the semi-finals. They ended up as the runners-up of the 2020 tournament after losing to home side Australia. Last year, Australia clinched their sixth title by defeating South Africa. Meanwhile, India fell short against the Aussies by just five runs in a thrilling semi-final encounter.
