Mandhana shines in the anchor role with a brilliant century

In Kolkata, Smriti Mandhana is having a phenomenal year in ODI cricket. Her batting average has soared to 68, the highest it has been since 2019. Additionally, her strike rate has improved to 97.34 from 94.63 in 2019. With eight centuries to her name, Mandhana has surpassed Mithali Raj's record of seven centuries. What is even more intriguing is that before 2024, Mandhana had never scored an ODI century at home. However, that statistic has been rectified with three centuries - 117 and 136 against South Africa earlier this year, and now a century against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. This remarkable achievement is sure to capture the attention of cricket fans worldwide.

This is a promising home run primarily for two reasons. Between 2021 and 2023, Mandhana’s numbers had dropped drastically. Barring a fantastic hundred in Hamilton in 2022 neither the average nor the conversion rate was noteworthy. It’s absurd to even question how good Mandhana is in this format based on these numbers but they were telling nevertheless. Particularly lean was 2021 where shortcomings were exposed against South Africa at home, away in England and then in Australia. The boundary percentage had dropped and dot balls had shot up as her struggle to convert starts was evident.

Sorting them out patiently, that too at home, bookending a disappointing run at the T20 World Cup, has allowed Mandhana to paint a clearer identity of the kind of ODI batter she really is. An average of 86 and a strike rate of 101.57 with two hundreds this year while batting first this year are the sort of returns batters would kill for at home.

But take note of that average of 54.75 batting second too, adding fresh perspective in the form of a stern opposition of New Zealand at Ahmedabad on Tuesday and it bolsters belief that Mandhana is honing herself for the ODI World Cup at home next year.

Which, goes without saying, could massively influence how Indian women’s cricket shapes up. Opportunity came and went in the UAE earlier this month during the T20 World Cup, with the failure stinging more than it should have because of India’s top-order woes, particularly of Mandhana who had scores of 12, 7, 50 and 6. Five and a duck in the first two ODIs in Ahmedabad gave the feeling that Mandhana’s batting was in a rut. But she took it upon herself to change the narrative on Tuesday, ensuring India faced no hiccups in a tricky chase of 233.

“It has been a tough one-and-a-half months for this team,” Mandhana had said after the third ODI win on Tuesday. “The first two games didn’t go my way so I am really happy I could get a score today.” She had to work for it though. Shafali Verma’s early dismissal could have kept India in some pressure but Mandhana patiently worked the gaps before hitting her first boundary in the ninth over.

“It was more about controlling my shots, you don’t bat the same way everyday. You’re in the best frame some days and you’re not other days,” she said in the post-match presentation.

Since the required rate was always within control, Madhana never had to go for any risky shot. Not for long though did Mandhana curb herself. Boundaries started coming more frequently once her fifty was up as India kept racking up match-altering partnerships. The stand with Yastika Bhatia was worth 76 before Kaur and Mandhana added 117 for the third wicket. And throughout those two partnerships, Mandhana looked on top of the chase.

It gave a peek into what Mandhana essentially is, a dependable anchor. And since one-dayers still allow batters that time to switch from a cautious note to a higher gear, Mandhana is perfect in that role. She is okay on the strike rate front too, considering women’s one-day cricket hasn’t exactly entered the fast lane like the men’s version.

Though it must be pointed out that Mandhana possesses the skill and range to accelerate whenever she deems necessary. Like on Tuesday, where she had scored just nine runs from the first 25 balls before adding 46 in the next 50 deliveries. At home, with the ODI World Cup in sight, that acceleration was an accurate indicator of Mandhana’s mindset in this format.

“I had to be a little hard on myself early on and wait for the first 10 overs to go before taking the game on,” she said. “For me what works is the harder way. Need to do it for the team first. Getting out early means I’ve let the team down and that thought doesn’t let me sleep well. As a cricketer you are going to get highs and lows, you need to keep the routine the same.”

That process has finally paid off, thankfully at a time India were desperately seeking batting maturity.