Vastrakar will be crucial for India in Women's T20 World Cup: Mandhana

Chennai,UPDATED: Jul 10, 2024 13:27 IST

Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has backed bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar's ability to shine in the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this October. Vastrakar's exceptional performance in the recent T20I series against South Africa bolstered the team's optimism. The 24-year-old quick bowler claimed eight wickets, including a standout 4/13 in the final game, leading India to a decisive 10-wicket victory and leveling the three-match series 1-1.

"The wickets were flat in the first two matches, and for her to come up with such figures is amazing. We hope she keeps doing the same things and will be crucial for us in the World Cup," Mandhana told reporters on Tuesday. Vastrakar's impact was especially felt in the final T20I, where her bowling restricted South African women to 84 runs. The second match saw her taking two wickets despite the game being washed out. Mandhana praised Vastrakar's stamina and brilliance with the ball throughout the series.

"She is brilliant with the ball. It's been a long series for all of us, and being a bowler, I wonder how she has carried on without getting tired," Mandhana added. In addition to the T20Is, India also engaged in a one-off Test and three ODIs against South Africa. Mandhana reflected on Vastrakar's consistent performance, recalling her impressive spell during the five-match T20I series in Bangladesh in April-May, where she took five wickets, the joint second-highest in the series.

"Even during the Bangladesh T20I series, the way she bowled, especially during the death overs, I struggled to see the ball when she was running in so quickly," Mandhana remarked. "We knew she had made a difference in how she has been bowling in the last few months. Coming into the series, we were confident of her."

Mandhana also credited the pre-series camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for the team's success against South Africa. The intensive training sessions at the NCA, particularly the batters' camp, were instrumental in preparing the players for the series.

"A lot of effort was put in during the batters' camp that we had at the NCA before the series. The number of hours in the camp with the bat helps you," Mandhana said. "Throughout the series, all the players were ready to play and bat across formats, having practiced those scenarios in the camp. I believe in working hard when no one's watching, and that helped me and the team perform well in this series."