WPL 2024: Dejected Smriti Mandhana hopes to come back strong after MI hammering
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, Smriti Mandhana hoped to come back strong in the next match after suffering their second consecutive loss in the WPL 2024. She admitted that the team didn’t get the start that they wanted and couldn’t adjust well to the Bengaluru pitch against Mumbai Indians.
However, the RCB skipper lauded Ellyse Perry’s single-handed effort and called her a fighter.
RCB slumped to their 2nd straight lossof the season as they were thumped by Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets in their den at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. After being asked to bat first, RCB never really got going while setting the target as they were reduced to 71 for 5. However, Perry emerged as RCB’s lone warrior with her unbeaten 44-run knock and shared a handy 52-run partnership with Georgia Wareham. The Mumbai bowlers managed to restrict RCB to 131 runs.
“I think we didn’t really get the start we wanted, and that (losing 4 wickets early) really cost us the game. It was the same wicket we played against Delhi Capitals. We thought 165 was a good total, it wasn’t as good as it was in the last game, but still a good wicket to bat on. Batting first, it was holding a little bit. We tried but couldn’t adjust to the wicket,” Smriti said in the post-match presentation.
“Hopefully, we will learn the lessons and come back strong. Having a good start and carrying the momentum is really important in T20 cricket. Also, it is really important to attack the stumps. She (Perry) is definitely a fighter, she wasn’t 100 percent today, but anyone watching wouldn’t have figured that out. She is an excellent athlete and her innings really helped us get to a decent score from that stage (42/4),” Smriti added.
