T20 format is not easy for me, I'm not a big hitter: Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana played one of her finest innings in international cricket on Saturday, June 28, as she slammed her maiden women's T20I ton. England received a thrashing at the hands of the Mumbai batter in the first T20I at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, and went 0-1 down in the five-match series.

Mandhana, who was also the stand-in captain of the Indian team, played an epic 112-run knock off 62 deliveries, belting 15 fours and three sixes, helping India reach 210/5 in the first innings. In reply, the hosts were bowled out for 113 in 14.5 overs.

After her heroics in Nottingham, Mandhana had an honest assessment for her game in the shortest format. She said that she is still honing her craft as a batter in T20 cricket, as she is someone who relies on timing instead of going for the big hits.

"It's not a very natural format for me because I like to time the ball, [I'm] not a big hitter of the ball. And for the last six years, it's always a work in progress - and it's still a work in progress," Mandhana was quoted as saying by the ICC.

Mandhana expressed her excitement upon witnessing that the hard work she has been putting in behind the scenes, enhancing her power game, is bearing fruit.

"So, to actually get a hundred in this format, of course, getting it before in Test cricket and One Day cricket which are more suited to my batting [was significant as well], but getting it in this format is pretty special because it's not one of my strengths. I mean, the improvement and I'm trying to work a lot on my power hitting and to see that come through, which is a really nice feeling," said Mandhana.

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Mandhana said that the responsibility of leading the team doesn't put her under any added pressure when she is batting. The 28-year-old mentioned how happy she was after being able to contribute to India's win.

"As a batter, it doesn't change a lot. You don't think that you are captaining and you bat differently. Whenever you have the bat in hand, you have to do the job for the team regardless of the position you are in, so I'm really happy that I could contribute today," said Mandhana.