We have to move forward even after winning the World Cup: Mandhana said – can’t stop at success

Trivandrum. India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said every innings in cricket starts from the beginning and past performance does not guarantee future success, stressing the need for a balanced approach across all formats.

“In cricket, you have to start from zero. The scoreboard is always zero on zero. It is never about what you have done in the last match or the last series,” Mandhana said.

He explained that expectations are different in different formats, T20 cricket requires a different mental approach than ODI and Test cricket. He said, “T20 is a bit like that where you can’t be too hard on yourself after getting out because you are playing at such a pace where there are some days when it will work and some days when it won’t. I am very hard on myself with ODI cricket and Test cricket because you have a lot of time. If you get out there, it feels like a sin to me.”

Mandhana said that while matches can be won by one’s ability on certain days, players should also accept failures without thinking too much. He said, “There are some days when you win matches for the country, but there are some days when you do not score runs. You have to take both in your stride because you cannot think too much. It is just a quick change.”

Speaking on India’s recent ODI World Cup win, Mandhana cautioned against focusing too much on past success, and described the team as a team still on the rise. “The ODI World Cup was the biggest thing for women’s cricket, and we accomplished it, so it’s a big win. But you can’t just think about success,” she said.

The senior batsman admitted that the team missed chances during the year and said that the focus remained on continuous improvement. Mandhana said, “It has happened many times with us when we could have won the match, but we could not win. This team is so young, we always keep moving forward,” Mandhana said.

She further said that she would rate the team’s overall performance this year as “seven out of ten”. Thanking the fans for their continued support, especially during and after the ODI World Cup, Mandhana said the team’s aim is to keep improving. “It’s been a great year for women’s cricket. I hope we continue to make the fans proud and they keep coming to support us,” she said.