"It's not like players don't talk...": Smriti Mandhana's bold take on India-Pakistan rivalry

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana opened up about the team's preparation for the high-octane match against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. Smriti Mandhana said that every game in the World Cup is important but added that the India-Pakistan rivalry is more about the emotions of the fans.

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to kick off on October 3 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The marquee tournament has moved to the UAE due to political unrest in Bangladesh, the original host. Players will face the added challenge of adapting to the local conditions and the intense heat.

India is placed in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team will begin their campaign against New Zealand Women on Friday, October 4, in Dubai. The Women in Blue will take on Pakistan Women in their next match at the same venue on October 6.

Every game In The World Cup Is Important - Smriti Mandhana

As India prepares to face New Zealand, Smriti Mandhana stated that they will give 100% in every World Cup game. She acknowledged the strength of teams like New Zealand and Sri Lanka but emphasized that mistakes against Australia can be costly.

"Every game in the World Cup is important, and you have to give your 100 per cent in each one. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are strong teams, but with Australia, you know you can't afford to make mistakes," said Mandhana.

"You have to bring your best game on that particular day to get the better of them. There's always excitement when facing Australia because they're such a good team, and beating them is a great challenge," added the India vice-captain.

It's The Emotions From Both Nations - Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana highlighted that the upcoming match against Pakistan brings out intense emotions among players and fans alike. She said that players interact normally, but the rivalry is heavily fueled by the passion from both nations.

"I think the India-Pakistan rivalry is more about the emotions of the fans than anything else. It's not like the players don't talk to each other; it's the emotions from both nations that make it so intense," Mandhana said.

"For me, every World Cup match is special, and we put the same amount of effort into each game. But there's definitely a lot of emotion attached to the India-Pakistan games," she further stated.

Team India has made it to the final only once since the Women's T20 World Cup began in 2009. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team lost to Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2020. They were bowled out for just 99 runs while trying to chase a target of 185 in the summit clash.

India advanced to the semi-finals in the last edition of the Women's T20 World Cup but lost to Australia by five runs in Cape Town in 2023. Their performance has been inconsistent since then. They managed to win against Bangladesh but experienced series defeats to Australia and England before that.

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