Not many thought we would qualify after Asia Cup heartbreak, says Smriti Mandhana

After India made it to the semi-finals of the World T20 beating Ireland, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said that they were counted out by all after they were beaten in the Asia Cup, six months ago.

This was the second time that India made it to the semi-final of an ICC tournament. They were beaten by Bangladesh in the final.

“It means a lot because after the Asia Cup final, a lot of things happened back home,” she said , as quoted by The Indian Express.

“Everyone had actually thought that we wouldn’t even make it to the semi-finals because we did not even win the Asia Cup. But I guess everyone was motivated enough after the Asia Cup that this time, this is the time everyone will be watching, and we have to prove our point because in 2017 we qualified for the final, but only it cannot happen just once,” added Mandhana.

Also read: ICC Women’s World T20: Mithali Raj, spinners star in India’s 52-run win over Ireland

India have won all three matches so far in the T20 World Cup in the competition, starting with a dominant win over New Zealand. They defeated arch-rivals Pakistan and on Thursday went past Ireland to seal a spot in the semi-final. They now face Australia in their final group match and Mandhana added that they would fight with the same intensity.

“I think we will be looking at it as a match only and not just like we need to be on the top of the table of this group,” she said.

“That’s what our mindset will be, and to go all out. Before coming into the World T20, Ramesh (Powar, the coach) had told us that you have to dominate each and every match, so that is the only mindset which we had the last three matches, and I don’t think it will change in the next match,” she added.

While commenting on her team’s 52-run win over Ireland, she said, “The first two matches I definitely felt we were good, but today I felt batting could have been better. But bowling and fielding I think we are really good, and we dominated the opposition.”

Riding on the back of a half-century by Mithali Raj, India posted 144 in the first innings. “I didn’t think that 140 was good enough because in T20s you can’t keep thinking about the wicket and the outfield because it’s such a fast game.

“So I think we were aiming at 165 to 170, but unfortunately we could not do that,” the left-hander who scored 33 said.

Image credit- Hindustan Times