India's vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, is gearing up for the Women's T20 World Cup with a clear focus on giving her best against top contenders, including Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan. She emphasized the need for 100% effort and the importance of strategic preparation in the scorching Dubai heat.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, which begins on Thursday, Mandhana acknowledged the challenge of facing the six-time champions, Australia. She noted that there are no shortcuts to defeating such a dominant team, especially under the new leadership of Alyssa Healy, following the retirement of former captain Meg Lanning.
Australia’s impressive unbeaten streak in the last three World Cup editions has set a high bar for competitors. Mandhana stressed that India needs to be flawless in its gameplay against them. She also pointed out that strong opponents like New Zealand and Sri Lanka will require India to bring its A-game. The match against Pakistan is always emotionally charged, adding another layer of intensity to the competition.
With Dubai’s afternoon heat adding to the challenges, the Indian team has planned multiple training sessions to adapt to the conditions. According to Mandhana, preparing both mentally and physically is key to India's success in the tournament.
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