‘In a T20 tournament, any team can beat any team’- Smriti Mandhana downplays Australian threat in CWG Opener
Smriti Mandhana downplayed the presence of Australia at the commonwealth games as she said that Australia aren’t a “big team” and Team India shouldn’t be worried about facing them in the upcoming Commonwealth Games. India and Australia are set to lock horns in the opening game on July 29 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
The Women in Blue have beaten Australia in six out of 23 matches since their first meeting back in 2008. In England, Australia got the better of India in their only meeting back in 2011. Apart from Meg Lanning and Co, India will also lock horns with Pakistan and Barbados.
Mandhana spoke about the familiarity of the opposition Australia and the reason being that India has faced Australia in several games already and that India will be aware of the tactics that are put in place by Australia.
”We have played them (Australia) in the openers in quite a lot of tournaments. In a T20 tournament, any team can beat any team. I wouldn’t term Australia as a big team and make them feel good about that. Definitely, in our heads, Australia, Pakistan, and Barbados matches are important. We will go as they come and will look to win all of them,” Mandhana was quoted as saying.
Mandhana spoke about the Women in Blue being excited about taking part in the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and the possibility of winning a medal for the national side at the games.
“Really excited to be part of the commonwealth games. I think it is something very new for me and our team. We’ve never experienced going out and playing a tournament where other sports are also involved. So I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Mandhana added.
“We haven’t had an experience of playing in a commonwealth game, where we’ll strive to get the gold medal because we’ve always imagined us lifting the trophy and trying to put us on a podium where we lift a trophy.
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