Women's World Cup 2025: 'The collapse started from me' - Smriti Mandhana holds herself accountable for England loss

Smriti Mandhana accpeted that her dismissal triggered the collapse of the Indian batting unit against England in Match 20 of the Women's World Cup 2025. She felt the contest could have been stretched further during the second innings rather than rushing through proceedings. 

The Indian vice-captain felt her lofted shot was unneeded at the time it was played, as they went from 234/3 in 42nd over while chasing 289 to a four-run defeat. Mandhana fell for 88 off 94 after holing out in the deep as she tried to take on spinner Linsey Smith. From that point, India slipped to 262/6 by the 47th over, failing to close out a game that was theirs to lose.

"We could've done better with our shot selection. It started from me, so I'll take it on myself that the shot selection should have been better. We just needed six runs per over. Maybe, we should've taken the game deeper. I'll take it [upon] myself because the collapse started from me. I thought I could take her [Linsey Smith] on, I was trying to aim more over covers. Maybe, the shot wasn't needed at that time. I just needed to be more patient because throughout the innings," Mandhana was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Mandhana, however, admitted that she was confident that the team will finish the job even as she walked back to the dugout. Notably, India suffered their third straight loss in the ongoing tournament. While the ones against South Africa and Australia were by three wickets each, the defeat against the Nat Sciver-Brunt-led unit came while batting second.

"The emotions took over for that one, which never helps in cricket. But walking back, I was pretty confident that we'll be able to get the win. But it's cricket, you can't ever think too far ahead. If you lose, I don't think [a good innings] means anything. I had to be a little more patient than I've been in the last two-three months," she added.

India have two matches left in the round-robin campaign; against New Zealand (October 23 in Navi Mumbai) and Bangladesh (October 26 in Navi Mumbai), respectively.