Smriti Mandhana led the Indian team to a three-match ODI series victory over the Ireland women’s team. The series’ highlights were youthful opener Pratika Rawal and stand-in India captain, who put on an amazing show by batting at the top of the innings and forming two consecutive partnerships of 100+ runs for the first wicket.
The opening pair for the Indian women’s ODI side racked up 233 runs in the third ODI, one of their best opening partnerships ever.
With the captain recording the fastest century for an Indian in women’s ODI cricket and Rawal recording her first ODI century,
Both Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal scored significant runs.
In a video that BCCI Women posted, the two openers talked about their milestone, with Smriti asking the young batter how she felt after hitting her first century and how she swiftly extended her innings by 50 runs.
“It was enjoyable, and I’m having a great time in Rajkot, running a lot, which is truly a blessing.” “I always wanted to score more runs as a batter, and it’s a privilege to do that for your country, so I’m very happy,” Rawal said.
Watch the video below:
A post-series chat with the record-breaking opening duo! 😎
From Maiden ODI century to Fastest ODI Hundred for India in women’s cricket 💯
Captain Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal 𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 it all 😃👌 – By @mihirlee_58 #TeamIndia | #INDvIRE | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/7c0xsYGaIo
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) January 16, 2025
The 50 runs after the hundred came a little quicker, and I was able to score the way I score, Rawal continued. “After 78 I was a bit conscious yaar hundred hain hundred hain I was taking singles I was playing a little slow but after I got the hundred I said yeah let’s just go for it.”
Additionally, Pratika Rawal asked Smriti to break the record of Harmanpreet Kaur, who achieved her century in 87 balls against South Africa Women in 2024, by completing the fastest hundred in Women’s ODI cricket for an Indian batter in 70 balls.
“I told the whole dugout before I went in that I was going to try and play my shots because you don’t get the chance to do that very often,” Mandhana stated. “I just wanted to go out there and bat with a lot of freedom today.”
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