Watch: Smriti Mandhana gives Deepti Sharma a taste of her own medicine after the latter plays mind games

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana oozed her class with the bat in the ongoing game against UP Warriorz. The 11th match of the Women’s Premier League is taking place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. 

After suffering two back-to-back losses, Smriti Mandhana made sure that she stood tall for her side in the must-win encounter. Opening the batting, she played a magnificent innings at the top and made sure that her team posted a fighting total on the board against UP Warrioz. 

Smriti Mandhana played some blistering strokes in her innings and put the opposition bowlers under pressure. The skipper led from the front and made sure that she entertained the crowd at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which is RCB’s home ground. 

While her class with the bat was unmatchable, Smriti Mandhana made sure that she gave Deepti Sharma a taste of her own medicine. Ahead of the 4th ball of the 11th over, the UP Warrioz spinner played mind games with the RCB skipper as she bailed out before delivering the ball. 

Smriti Mandhana then made sure that she played the mind games too. The RCB women’s batter then pulled out and lifted the crowd up. The video of the incident went viral on the internet in no time. Here’s the clip: 

𝙀𝙠 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖, 𝙀𝙠 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖 😉

Smriti giving Deepti a taste of her own medicine 😅#TATAWPL #UPWvRCB #TATAWPLonJioCinema #TATAWPLonSports18 #HarZubaanParNaamTera#JioCinemaSports #CheerTheW pic.twitter.com/iGPB0Tjo0v

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 4, 2024

Deepti Sharma had a last laugh in the battle in the battle against Smriti Mandhana as she removed the RCB skipper. During the 17th over, the all-rounder bowled a full and just outside off to which the batter shuffled across a touch and got down low looking to slog-sweep over deep mid-wicket. 

But she didn’t get the desired connection and they picked the fielder, who took the catch to end the superb innings of Smriti Mandhana. The RCB skipper ended with innings of 80 runs off 50 balls and also hit 10 fours and 3 sixes in her innings.

When I came into the game today, I was really focused – Smriti Mandhana 

Smriti Mandhana opened up about her innings after the first innings. She said that she was focused coming into the game as the last two games gave hurt them. She added that more than bagging the orange cap, she is happy with the team total. 

Smriti Mandhana also talked about the decision to open with Sabbhineni Meghana, saying that it was a team decision and they wanted Sophie Devine to get a chance in the middle order. Speaking to broadcasters, she said: 

“When I came into the game today, I was really focused. The last two losses hurt us a lot. We wanted to express ourselves regardless of batting first or second. More than the orange cap, I am really happy that we could get 190+. It’s still game one, we have to bowl well. The wicket was holding a bit, we backed ourselves to go for our shots. That was the chat in the dressing room. 

“It (opening with Sabbhineni Meghana) was a team decision, nothing to do with Sophie (Devine). Sophie is an amazing player. We have a lot of confidence and faith in her. She’s batted two-down a lot in the international circuit, we thought It’ll be a great opportunity for her in the middle order to get some runs behind her back. It’s still a long tournament,” she concluded.