Smriti Mandhana Takes Responsibility for India's Narrow Defeat Against England in World Cup

Mandhana Reflects on India's Collapse Against England

In a gripping ICC Women's World Cup match held in Indore, India opener Smriti Mandhana acknowledged her role in the team's late-game collapse, which resulted in a heartbreaking four-run loss to England. Chasing a target of 289 runs, India seemed to be in a strong position but faltered in the final overs.

Mandhana Discusses the Team's Shot Selection

When asked about the reasons behind the team's collapse, Mandhana stated, "Absolutely, it was evident that we collapsed. I believe our shot selections during that phase could have been improved. It particularly started with me, so I take full responsibility for that. We only needed six runs per over, and perhaps we should have played more conservatively. I will own up to it since the collapse initiated with my dismissal."

She also addressed concerns regarding the reliance on Richa Ghosh for finishing the innings, saying, "While Richa has been exceptional for us, I wouldn't say the outcome depended solely on her. We needed just 6.5 runs per over, not an impossible target. The finishing task was challenging, but we've seen Aman (Amanjot Kaur) perform well in the Women's Premier League, and Sneh (Rana) has also been impressive in the last few matches. We all share the responsibility for not performing better in those crucial last overs."

Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana remained not out with scores of 18 off 15 balls and 10 off 9 balls, respectively, but their efforts fell short of securing a win for India.

In the match, India faced early trouble at 42/2 while chasing 289 runs. However, Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur formed a remarkable partnership, adding 125 runs together.

The duo displayed resilience and aggression, putting pressure on the English bowlers and instilling hope in the Indian camp. Their partnership set a record for the highest run chase for India in World Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 108 runs set by Mandhana and Mithali Raj against the West Indies in 2017.

Harmanpreet, who had struggled earlier in the tournament, regained her form, scoring a solid 70 runs off 70 balls with 10 boundaries before being dismissed by Nat Sciver-Brunt.

With 1,017 runs in 31 World Cup matches at an average of 46.22, including three centuries and five fifties, she ranks as the seventh-highest run-scorer in World Cup history.

Against England in ODIs, she has accumulated 1,025 runs in 28 matches at an average of 46.59, featuring three centuries and six fifties. After Harmanpreet's dismissal, Mandhana found a reliable partner in Deepti Sharma, and together they added 67 runs, keeping India in contention.

Mandhana showcased her skill, scoring 88 runs off 94 balls with eight boundaries before being caught off Linsey Smith. At the time of her dismissal, India needed 55 runs from 52 balls.

Richa Ghosh attempted to accelerate the innings but was dismissed for 8 runs, leaving India at 256/6 in 45.4 overs. Following Ghosh's wicket, Deepti aimed to take control but misplayed a shot off Sophie Ecclestone, resulting in another wicket. This left India needing 27 runs from 19 balls, a target that proved too challenging as the lower order crumbled under pressure, leading to India's third consecutive defeat in the tournament, finishing at 284/6.

Nat Sciver-Brunt was instrumental for England, taking 2 wickets for 47 runs in her eight overs. Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, and Sophie Ecclestone each contributed with a wicket, helping England maintain their composure in the final moments to secure a dramatic victory and advance to the semifinals.