New Delhi, Sep 25 (NationPress) Smriti Mandhana, India's in-form vice-captain, believes that the enthusiasm of the home crowd will play a crucial role as the co-hosts prepare for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, kicking off on September 30.

India will start their journey against fellow co-hosts Sri Lanka in Guwahati, aiming to secure their inaugural World Cup title. “We have all been anticipating this World Cup. A lot has changed for women’s cricket in India since 2013, when I was just a kid,” she expressed.

“I am truly eager to witness how the stadiums will resonate with support. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has also made us accustomed to the roaring crowd. Nothing can surpass the thrill of fans cheering for India at the stadiums,” Smriti shared during her conversation on JioStar on Thursday.

She fondly recalled the moment she received her first Indian jersey. “At 17, I got my India jersey in my room. It’s a memory I will never forget. I wore it and sent pictures to my parents and brother, who were very emotional. Challenges are part of your journey,” she remembered.

Reflecting on her path to representing India, Smriti shared, “The greatest challenge for me was being in Sangli, where not many girls played cricket. I often had to travel from Sangli to Pune for camps, spending 4-5 months away from home. As a 14-year-old, missing school during that time was tough.”

Smriti expressed pride in wearing the Indian jersey and discussed the changes she implemented following the team's failure to advance to the knockouts of the 2024 T20 World Cup. “I felt incredibly proud during the Commonwealth semi-final against Australia. Our belief has significantly evolved, which stems from the hard work we put in,” she noted.

“With effort comes resilience. That’s a major shift in this team; everyone believes they can be match-winners. The last T20 World Cup impacted me deeply. I thought, ‘I don’t want to feel this way as an athlete again.’ Since then, I’ve made significant changes in fitness and nutrition,” she added.

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma shared her thoughts on the significance of wearing the Indian jersey and the team’s evolving mindset. “Whenever I don the blue jersey, I strive to make every moment worthwhile. It gives me goosebumps when we line up for the national anthem,” she expressed.

“When I scored 188 against Ireland in South Africa, that was the highest score for India. I achieved that as an opener and am incredibly proud of that moment in the India jersey,” she said.

“Our mindset has shifted, irrespective of the opponent or format. We focus on our capabilities and emphasize positivity, applying it in practice. We engage with Amol sir during our sessions, aiming to step out of our comfort zones to prepare for various situations,” she concluded.