Is It About the Process or the Hype? Mandhana's Take on the 2025 Women’s World Cup

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mandhana prioritizes process over hype.
- Focus on teamwork and calmness is essential.
- Launch of the City Cricket Academy aims to nurture future talent.
- Mandhana's statistics highlight her impact on women's cricket.
- Long-term commitment to the sport is evident in her actions.
Dubai, July 18 (NationPress) As excitement builds for the upcoming 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, India’s batting stalwart Smriti Mandhana remains grounded. With over 9,000 international runs and a decade-long journey marked by calmness and consistency, Mandhana is navigating this period with humility rather than hype.
In a discussion with cricket historian Sunil Yash Kalra on the Cricket Predicta Show, Mandhana emphasized her belief in staying present. “I’ve always been a big believer in not thinking too far ahead. We have to focus on the process, do everything right each day—and that’s the goal,” she expressed.
Mandhana, anticipated to play a crucial role in India’s World Cup journey, believes that the secret lies in collective calmness rather than mere anticipation. “As a team, everyone is calm. We have a long road ahead in the next five to six months. I prefer not to over-discuss it. Cricket is a game where if you do your part right, things will align. Let’s focus on performing well,” she stated.
While her attention is on India’s World Cup preparations, Mandhana is also contributing to the sport's future. She recently inaugurated the City Cricket Academy by Smriti Mandhana in Dubai—a venture stemming from her longstanding relationship with UK-based coach Don Bhagawati, who will oversee the academy’s training.
“This partnership is significant for me,” she noted. “Currently, I’m prioritizing my cricket, and Don will manage the coaching. I’ve known Don for many years; initially, I was intimidated by his name. But over time, Don and his family have become like family to me in England.”
Statistically, Mandhana is a titan of modern cricket. In Test matches, she boasts an average of 57.18 across 12 innings with two centuries. In ODIs, she has accumulated 4,501 runs at an average of 46.4, while her T20I figures include 3,982 runs at a strike rate nearing 124. Her more than 1,000 boundaries across formats highlight her elegance and command at the crease.