Mandhana: “Huge Belief in Team That We Can Win From Any Point”

Despite a record run-fest in the third ODI against Australia, where India fell short by 43 runs while chasing 412, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana remains upbeat about the team’s progress and mindset heading into the upcoming Women’s World Cup.

Mandhana was in scintillating form throughout the three-match series, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 300 runs, including a 63-ball 125 in the final ODI in Delhi. Her century, brought up in just 50 balls, is now the second-fastest in the history of Women’s ODIs.

While India lost the high-scoring decider and the series 2-1, Mandhana struck a positive tone after the match.

“I have a huge belief in the whole team, that from any point we can still win the match. That belief is never going to change with one or two results,” she said. “Everyone in the Indian side is a match-winner—not only the playing XI but all 15 who are part of the team.”

Mandhana dismissed suggestions that India’s batting is overly reliant on her, pointing to the recent form of several other players.

“In the last 12 months, we’ve posted 300-plus totals even when I’ve gotten out early. That shows the strength in depth. Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harman [Harmanpreet Kaur]—they’ve all scored hundreds.”

India’s batting nearly matched Australia’s formidable 412, their joint-highest ODI total, with Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma also contributing fifties. However, the chase fell short as India were bowled out for 369.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Mandhana highlighted fielding as a key area for improvement. India dropped 15 catches across the series—a statistic that proved costly against a clinical Australian side.

“Australia is a great opposition to test ourselves against,” Mandhana admitted. “Fielding is one area where we need to be more consistent—not just individual brilliance but as a unit. We have days where we look like a top fielding side, and then days where we don’t. That’s something we need to address before the World Cup.”

India played the third ODI in pink jerseys as part of a breast cancer awareness initiative, and while the occasion was special, the focus remained on performance.

Mandhana also praised the younger players in the squad for their drive and commitment to improvement.

“This series wasn’t about proving we can win the World Cup—we already believe that,” she said. “It was about understanding what’s working and what’s not. The biggest positive has been the willingness in the younger players to learn and grow. It’s a young team, but the will to succeed is very high.”

India now turn their attention to preparations for the ICC Women’s World Cup, with the team looking to build on the learnings from the Australia series and iron out key areas—particularly in the field—as they chase their maiden world title.