Anjum Chopra offered her thoughts on vice-captain Smriti Mandhana‘s desire for big-match performances, captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s batting strategy, and the inspirational journey of Kranti Goud as the Indian team prepares to play South Africa in their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match. This highlighted the balance of experience and youthful energy within the Indian camp ahead of a pivotal match.
Smriti Mandhana must maintain her form from bilateral series in multi-team competitions like the World Cup, according to Anjum.
The former cricket player for India believed that the current tournament is even more important for all Indians, including Smriti Mandhana, because it is not often that they get to participate in a competition of this size in front of their home crowd.
Smriti Mandhana will undoubtedly benefit from her liking of the ball coming onto the bat and her enjoyment of hitting over the line, particularly when facing South Africa’s pace attack. Reminding yourself that it’s just another game of cricket and calming your mind, heart, and stomach are also important. Despite the fact that it’s a World Cup match, she has been playing a brilliant “see ball, hit ball” strategy for the past year and a half. This season, she has already scored more than 400 runs.
She must now comprehend her responsibilities as vice captain, which include playing game-winning knocks and providing support when needed by the squad. Anjum stated on JioStar, “It’s just about perfecting her mindset and remaining completely aware of how situations can unfold.”
Smriti Mandhana has failed to make an impression in the World Cup despite being in incredible form in the series against Australia and England prior to the competition. She was dismissed for 23 against bitter rivals Pakistan in the second match after falling for just eight runs in India’s campaign opener against Sri Lanka.
“Unless they occur during a World Cup, none of the figures we frequently mention matter. Smriti would like to promptly correct that record. Opportunities like a home World Cup are rare, and no one is getting any younger. Smriti will score another hundred; it’s not that she won’t. She is currently only one century away from breaking Meg Lanning’s record.
“The main idea is that every day becomes significant when participating in a World Cup, particularly at home. not only in relation to India’s outcomes but also in terms of individual performance. Expectations will inevitably follow given Smriti’s level of skill. Ultimately, it is the batter’s responsibility to maintain composure and remind herself. It’s only a one-ball match.
Anjum also discussed Harmanpreet Kaur’s batting strategy, advising the Indian captain to take her time before taking shots rather than attempting to outmanoeuvre the opponent right away, which has frequently resulted in her downfall.
It is recommended that Harmanpreet Kaur allow herself a little more time at the crease. She seems to think like a twenty- or twenty-five-year-old who can just go out there and smack the ball around the park every time she walks in. She doesn’t have to, but she can. Frequently, the circumstance does not call for that level of hostility. Even if it means batting through ten overs without getting out, she simply needs to spend a little more time in the middle. It will be crucial to prevent rash shots and maintain her focus.
“It’s easier said than done because everything can get to you while you’re in the middle, including the scenario, scoreboard, and pressure. However, that is where a decent player and a match-winner vary from one another. In my opinion, Harmanpreet Kaur will feel much more at ease and comfortable as captain as a batsman the moment she reaches the 35 or 38 not out threshold and completes India’s innings, whether she is chasing or establishing a total.
Anjum also praised Kranti Goud, emphasising her remarkable journey from Madhya Pradesh’s hinterlands to the peak.
“Kranti Goud’s own narrative is incredibly motivating. She is the youngest of her siblings, and her family has supported her desire to play cricket even when her father lost his job. Her brothers supported her and enabled her to get to this point. She explained that in order for everyone to watch her play, a large LED screen was installed in both her village and the city of Madhya Pradesh, where she currently resides. She and everyone back home are really proud of that occasion.
“When you look at Kranti’s excitement and then at others in the dressing room who have played multiple World Cups with all their experience and wisdom, you can see how this mix is positively influencing the team’s environment,” she said.
India
