Veteran wicketkeeper Sushma Verma has downplayed concerns over Smriti Mandhana’s slow start in the ICC Women’s World Cup, saying India has enough batting depth to manage even if their star opener struggles.
Mandhana’s World Cup struggles
Mandhana entered the tournament on the back of a brilliant series against Australia, scoring 300 runs with two centuries, including the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian. However, she has managed only 31 runs so far in the World Cup, averaging 15.50 with a strike rate of 73.80. She was dismissed cheaply by pacers Udeshika Prabodhani (Sri Lanka) and Fatima Sana (Pakistan) in her opening matches.
Verma confident in India’s depth
Speaking as a JioStar expert during Media Day, Verma said, “If Smriti fails, we have other players capable of scoring big—Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur can step up. It’s not a major concern because everyone is in good shape.” She added that Mandhana’s lean patch is not unusual in big tournaments and stressed that the team has multiple match-winners.
Opportunity for others
Verma described Mandhana’s form as a “blessing in disguise” for the team’s middle order. “When the top opener doesn’t score, it becomes an opportunity for others to step up. Usually, openers dominate the run charts, but this allows the middle order to face more balls and contribute.”
Upcoming match
Currently third in the points table, India will next face South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt, on Thursday, October 9, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
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