Smashing a maiden T20I century in opposition to England was “pretty special” as the shortest format is “not one of my strengths”, mentioned India stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana after powering her facet to a 97-run victory in the opening match right here.
Mandhana struck her first T20I ton in her 149th recreation, a 62-ball 112 studded with 15 fours and three sixes, to assist the guests to 210 runs earlier than dismissing the hosts for 113 in 14.5 overs.
“It’s a nice feeling because this format is something which, for me as a batter, I need to keep pushing and keep improving. It’s not a very natural format for me,” Mandhana mentioned in the course of the post-match press convention on Saturday (June 28, 2025).
“I like to time the ball; (I’m) not a big hitter of the ball and, for the last six years, it’s always (been) a work in progress and it’s still a work in progress.
“So, to truly get 100 in this format, getting it earlier than in Test cricket and one-day cricket that are extra suited to my batting, however getting it in this format is pretty special as a result of it’s not one in all my strengths,” she said.
Mandhana added that she had been working on her power hitting.
“The enchancment… and I’m making an attempt to work lots on my energy hitting and to see that come by, which is a very nice feeling,” she said.
The left-handed opener, who had topped the batting charts last year with 763 runs in 23 T20Is, including eight fifties, said her celebration after scoring the ton was directed at teammate Radha Yadav.
“That’s really a joke. I feel three days again, me and Radha Yadav have been having a dialog that, (and) you understand all these ladies are actually onerous on me typically, they hold telling me (and) she was telling me that it’s excessive time you get a century in T20s,” Mandhana said.
“‘You hold getting out in 70s, 80s and you are not doing justice to your expertise’ and all of that stuff. I used to be like, ‘okay Radha, I’ll see now’. This time, I’ll attempt to get (it) in one of many matches in the collection.
“I did not think that it would come in the first match. The finger was towards her that ‘see, I got it today’. It’s pretty frustrating to get out in the 70s and 80s over the last 10 years,” she added.
Mandhana heaped reward on India bowlers, particularly 20-year-old debutant Shree Charani, who bagged 4 wickets.
“The way the bowlers bowled and executed the plans was just amazing. That makes our job very, very easy when they bowl like that,” Mandhana mentioned.
“They all were really focused. They knew their plans, especially (for) Shree to come in the first match and bowl (like that)… we saw what she could do in WPL a little bit. She was always looking really like a good bowler. But today, the way she actually bowled was amazing,” Mandhana mentioned.
“(For) all the bowlers, the plans were pretty clear. Even when we were inside and there were a few wickets fell and Nat (Sciver-Brunt) was on one end. The plan was pretty clear to try and execute your best ball to Nat and give a single to her, which they did brilliantly throughout.” Mandhana mentioned a giant knock from opener Shafali Verma was additionally not far away.
“I’ve seen Shafali bat final 7-8 days amazingly nicely in the nets, so I do not see a giant knock too far as a result of the best way she’s been hitting the ball.”
