Mandhana takes blame for India's Women's WC loss vs England
What's the story
Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has taken the blame for her side's four-run defeat against England in the ongoing Women's World Cup 2025. The match, held at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday, saw India chasing a target of 289 runs. Despite being in a strong position with a partnership of 125 runs between herself and Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandhana's dismissal led to India's batting collapse.
Match details
Mandhana's dismissal shifts momentum
Mandhana scored a brilliant 88 runs before getting out while trying to loft left-arm spinner Linsey Smith down the ground. This was the turning point of the match as India needed just 55 runs off their last 52 balls at that stage. Mandhana's dismissal opened the gate for England to barge through the door, and Deepti Sharma also lost her wicket later, contributing to the collapse.
Post-match remarks
Shot selections could have been better, says Mandhana
In the post-match press conference, Mandhana accepted her role in the team's collapse. "I think our shot selections at that stage could have been better. Especially since it started with me, I take responsibility for that; my shot selection should have been smarter," she said. Despite the defeat, India remain in contention for a semi-final spot, but they are in a must-win situation with crucial matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh remaining.
Future challenges
'Virtual quarter-final' against New Zealand
Mandhana stressed on the importance of their next match against New Zealand on October 23 at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Sports Academy. She called it a "virtual quarter-final" in terms of getting into the top four. Despite the pressure, Mandhana remained optimistic about her team's chances. "You don't play cricket to have easy days. We'll all take this in our strides," she added.