Mandhana anticipates playing first home Test since 2014
India last played a women's Test match back in 2021 versus Australia where Mandhana walked away with the Player of the Match award. She scored a classy hundred in the first innings of the pink ball Test. Her career features four Tests, with 325 runs at an average of 46.42.
As India prepares to host their first Women's Test match since 2014, vice-captain Mandhana spoke in the pre-match press conference about the rise of women's cricket and how things stand differently in comparison to the past.
"I think [we're] definitely very excited. We played [at home] last in 2014 back in Mysore against South Africa. A lot of things have changed for women's cricket, especially post 2017 after that phase. We could see that change also at Wankhede when we were playing the T20s, the kind of crowds which have come in, and the kind of support we are getting, plus the pay equality and all of that things, definitely women's cricket is on the rise.
"More than that, I think we are really excited to wear whites again at home soil and go out there and represent India in whites. I think it's a different feeling altogether."
With less than two days to go for the match, Mandhana delved into the details of adapting, both mentally and physically, to a format that the team does not play regularly.
"It requires both the aspects, the mental and the physical because bodies are not used to playing four back-to-back days of cricket because we generally play T20s and One Days a lot more which has gaps but I think playing two back-to-back T20s was something which we were already getting mentally prepared because I think more than physical part being four days mentally there, active, trying to focus [on] each and every ball.
Best of Smriti Mandhana for India at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023
"Working on my technique is just about that mental shift of patience more than anything. I think that will be really crucial because I don't see anyone in the team changing their batting techniques or bowling techniques. That takes a lot of time."
A couple of months back, India confirmed the appointment of Amol Muzumdar as their head coach who comes with an experience of 11,167 runs from 171 first-class matches. With many players in the squad in line to play their first Test match, Mandhana reveals Muzumdar has been the go-to person while the seniors continue to offer support.
"We have an experienced coach in terms of Amol Sir, he's played so much of Ranji Trophy cricket and he's used to playing a lot of four-day stuff, so I think more than two or three of us [senior players], I think he has a lot of more experience of red-ball cricket. I can see, a lot of girls approaching him and asking how his mindset was and if they come around us as well, we will always be ready to help in terms of whatever is needed."
The one-off Test kicks off on December 14 at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium. After a week, India will play another home Test against Australia, starting on December 21 at the Wankhede Stadium.
"Two test matches in 15 days, I don't think it's ever happened, at least from the time I have been part of the team. So that's really exciting times for us and hopefully, we can get a lot more of this."
The hosts would aim to carry forward the winning momentum that they were able to find from the final match of the T20I series despite losing it 2-1.