Smriti Mandhana Targets T20I Improvement Before Champions Trophy

Newly appointed India captain Smriti Mandhana said the team would use its upcoming matches to establish clear standards in the shortest format as it prepares for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy early next year.

Mandhana will begin her first assignment as India’s full-time captain when the hosts face Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series starting Friday in Raipur. The series will be followed by three one-day internationals.

Mandhana Welcomes First Series Against Zimbabwe

Mandhana described the bilateral series as an exciting opportunity, with India set to face Zimbabwe for the first time.

“The first bilateral (series) with Zimbabwe, I think, it is very exciting. It is our first time playing with them,” she said.

The India captain also highlighted the lessons her team could learn from Zimbabwe and other Associate nations, pointing to their enjoyment of the game.

With six T20 matches scheduled before the Champions Trophy, Mandhana said India would focus on defining how the team wants to play over the next three months.

India Look To Strengthen T20I Approach

Mandhana acknowledged that India still have areas to improve in the T20 format despite their recent success.

“We have won the World Cup in the last one-and-a-half-year but there were few things which we needed to work in the T20 format especially,” she said.

However, she praised the players who have come into the side, saying they had performed well. Mandhana added that while there was plenty of work to do, she wanted to focus on the team’s positives at the start of her captaincy.

The Indian team will travel to New Delhi on Thursday for a felicitation event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside the men’s team, following their Asian Games gold-medal triumph.