Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana reflected on a challenging time during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, where India Women secured their first ICC title. Although she entered the tournament with solid form, Mandhana acknowledged her difficulties in the initial matches. She shared that she had a candid conversation with herself before the fourth game against Australia.
In that match, Mandhana found her form again, scoring 80 runs, but India lost. She then scored 88 runs against England, yet India faced another defeat. She expressed disappointment after getting out at a crucial moment during a narrow four-run loss.
“I arrived at the World Cup in great form. The first three matches did not go as expected. In one-day Cricket, I aim not to get out in the first ten overs. After losing to South Africa, I questioned what I did wrong. I was hitting well in the nets, but maybe it was pressure or poor choices that day. I didn’t feel good in those initial matches. Though we lost the next match, I had an 80 and was getting my rhythm back. I was particularly disappointed after the England match,” Mandhana shared on the RCB Podcast.
After the match against England, Mandhana admitted feeling stressed and under significant pressure, explaining that she couldn’t talk to anyone for a while. She mentioned that anxiety affected her the night before India’s crucial game against New Zealand, which they needed to win to stay in the tournament.
“I kept wondering why I played that shot in the England game. The next day, during the flight, I felt just disappointed. That was the only time I didn’t speak to anyone. I was under a lot of stress. I thought not qualifying in a home World Cup would impact women’s cricket in India severely and set us back by 20 years. I was anxious the entire night before the New Zealand game,” said Mandhana.
Against New Zealand, Mandhana scored a remarkable century, leading India to a 53-run victory (DLS method) and ensuring their place in the semi-finals. She described this performance as significant given the match’s importance and believed the semi-final was a turning point in the World Cup.
“Given the match’s importance and the surrounding noise, it was special. There are recurring criticisms directed at women, but as a team, we prepared well. Public opinion can change quickly. We were all supporting each other. I was bothered by the thought of not making it to the semi-finals in a home World Cup,” Mandhana said.
“We faced a tough challenge in the semi-final. However, there was a calmness that prevailed. In the past, the team might have felt defeated, but now there was a positive belief that we could chase down the target. I watched the match from inside on TV. That semi-final took the World Cup to new heights,” she added.