Daijiworld Media Network - Vadodara
Vadodara, Oct 24: India women's captain Smriti Mandhana praised her bowlers for their disciplined performance after the team defeated Zimbabwe by a comfortable margin in the opening ODI of the series at Kotambi Stadium on October 23.
India opted to bowl first and restricted Zimbabwe to 197 runs. Opener Pratika Rawal then struck a century, while Shafali Verma supported her with an impressive batting display as India chased down the target comfortably to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Mandhana expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, particularly the way the bowlers adapted to the conditions at a new venue. She singled out Shree Charani for her standout bowling effort and also praised the pacers, including Kranthi Goud, for maintaining discipline.
Mandhana acknowledged that India's fielding could have been better, with the team dropping a few catches, but lauded the opening batters for their commanding performance during the chase.
"Coming into a different ground, I think the bowlers adapted really well, especially Shree Charani, I think standout bowler for us. Also the pacers, the way they bowled, Kranthi to mention, out of all the bowlers, they were pretty disciplined," Mandhana said.
She added that clear communication with the bowlers had played an important role in maintaining consistency in the attack. The skipper also credited bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and the support staff for helping the bowlers prepare their plans and execute them effectively.
Mandhana said the team had limited time to transition from T20 cricket to the ODI format, making communication and coordination particularly important.
Looking ahead to the next match, the captain hoped the players would get an opportunity to relax and spend time together after returning to one-day cricket following a lengthy gap. She also highlighted the importance of building stronger relationships within the squad.
India will look to carry the momentum into the next ODI as they aim to extend their lead and secure the series.