Ahead of the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025, Team India`s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said that everyone in her team believes that they are match-winners.
While speaking to JioStar, she said, “I think our belief has changed a lot and it only changes with what work you put behind it. When the effort is there, the fight will always be there”.
“That`s one thing that has changed with this team, everyone believes they are match-winners,” she added.
In last year`s T20 World Cup, the Indian women`s team managed to secure wins in two out of their four group stage matches. Following the early exit, Mandhana said that it had affected her a lot, and all players were adapting to the fitness and nutritional changes.
“The last T20 World Cup was something which hit me quite a lot. I thought to myself, `I don`t want to feel like this as an athlete in my life`. Post that, a lot of fitness and nutritional changes have come into place,” she said.
Ahead of the ODI Women`s World Cup, the left-hander is excited to witness fans cheering for the home side.
“We all have been waiting for this World Cup. A lot of things have changed for women`s cricket in India since 2013 when I was a kid. I am really excited to see how the stadiums turn out and the way they will support,” said the 29-year-old cricketer.
“The Women`s Premier League (WPL) has made us immune to the loud crowd as well. Nothing can beat people cheering India at the stadiums,” she added.
The ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 will kick start with the first game scheduled to be played between the Indian women`s team and the Sri Lankan women`s team on September 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
The clash against the arch-rivals, Pakistan, is scheduled to be played on October 5 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka.
The first semi-final of the tournament will be played on October 29, followed by the second semi-final on October 30.
The final of the marquee event has been scheduled to be played on November 2.
(With PTI Inputs)