Smriti Mandhana backs Pooja Vastrakar to shine in T20 World Cup

As the world gears up for the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh, India's vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has identified a crucial player for the team's success, Pooja Vastrakar. The 24-year-old pacer's recent performance against South Africa has caught the attention of everybody, promising a bright future for Indian women's cricket.

The recent T20I match against South Africa provided a perfect stage for Vastrakar to show her skills. With an impressive eight-wicket haul, including a stellar 4/13 in the final game, Vastrakar played a pivotal role in India's 10-wicket victory that levelled the series 1-1. 

This performance has not only boosted team morale but also highlighted Vastrakar's potential as a game-changer in the upcoming World Cup. Mandhana, impressed by Vastrakar's consistent performance, expressed her confidence in the young pacer.

“In the first two matches, the wickets were flat, and for her to come with such figures is amazing. We hope she keeps doing the same things and will be crucial for us in the World Cup. She is brilliant with the ball. It’s been a long series for all of us, and being a bowler, I wonder how has she done that (carried on without getting tired)?” Mandhana was quoted as saying by News18.

Also Read: Australia Women’s A to face India Women’s A in Queensland this August

Coming into the series, we were confident of her: Smriti Mandhana

Notably, Pooja Vastrakar's performance in the five-match T20I series in Bangladesh earlier this year, where she claimed five wickets, had already caught Smriti Mandhana's attention. The success against South Africa is said to be in part, to the pre-series camp at the National Cricket Academy. This preparation allowed the team to practice various scenarios, contributing to their adaptability across formats. Mandhana emphasized the importance of hard work behind the scenes.

“Even during the Bangladesh T20I series, the way she bowled, especially during the death overs, I struggled to see the ball when she was running in so quickly. We knew she had made a difference about how she has been bowling in the last few months. Coming into the series, we were confident of her,” Mandhana continued.

Also Read: Reema Malhotra lauds Pooja Vastrakar after brilliant spell against South Africa

“A lot of effort was put in during the batters’ camp that we had at the NCA before the series. The number of hours in the camp with the bat helps you. Throughout the series, all the players were ready to play and bat across formats, having practiced those scenarios in the camp. I believe in working hard when no one’s watching, and that helped me and the team perform well in this series,” she concluded.