Page 42 - The Indian EYE 103125

STUMP VISION OCTOBER 31, 2025 | The Indian Eye 42

SMRITI and PRATIKA:

India’s Record-Breaking Duo

Redefining Women’s ODI Batting

With a seamless blend of flair and focus, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal have emerged as the most formidable

opening pair in women’s cricket, rewriting record books and leading India’s resurgence in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

OUR BUREAU ern aggression, but what truly stands
out is her ability to guide younger
Navi Mumbai
teammates. As India’s vice-captain,
hen Smriti Mandhana and she’s not just a run-machine but also
Pratika Rawal walked out a mentor, shaping the next genera-
Wto open against New Zea- tion.
land at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Her composure under pressure,
Mumbai on Thursday, there was a her ability to shift gears seamlessly,
sense of anticipation in the air. India, and her growing stature as a leader
coming off three consecutive defeats, have made her the heartbeat of In-
needed not just runs but reassurance. dia’s batting unit. “Smriti is a phe-
What followed was a batting mas- nomenal thinker,” said one team
terclass that not only restored faith analyst. “She plans overs ahead, un-
but also reaffirmed the duo’s place derstands match situations, and com-
among the greatest opening pairs in municates that clarity to her partner.
women’s cricket history. Their 212- It’s like watching a chess player in
run partnership — India’s best open- motion.”
ing stand of the tournament — set Pratika Rawal’s rise has been
the tone for a commanding 53-run equally inspiring. In just two years on
win (DLS method) that sealed India’s the international circuit, she’s shown
semi-final berth in the ICC Women’s Smriti Mandhana plays a shot during the match against Sri Lanka Women in the ICC Women’s maturity that belies her age. Her
World Cup 2025. World Cup 2025 (ANI) aggressive yet calculated approach
has drawn comparisons to the likes
THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP Cup match. Mandhana struck a flu- accelerating ruthlessly in the middle of Australia’s Alyssa Healy, and her
ent 109, while Rawal’s composed 122 — has given India the stability it long ability to handle pressure has made
mriti Mandhana’s elegant showcased her maturity beyond her lacked at the top. her indispensable in crunch games.
strokeplay and Pratika Rawal’s 25 years. Mandhana’s milestone-laden “The support I get from my
Sfearless aggression have made year has been equally spectacular. teammates and coaches allows me
them the perfect foil for each oth- RECORDS THAT SPEAK With her latest hundred, she joined to express myself freely,” she said. “I
er — yin and yang at the top of the VOLUMES Australia’s Meg Lanning for the didn’t even realize I hit 1,000 runs un-
order. Together, they’ve transformed most centuries in women’s interna- til after the match. For me, it’s about
India’s batting approach, combining he numbers tell a story of con- tional cricket (17) and surpassed Li- winning games, not milestones.”
experience with youthful audacity. sistency and chemistry. The zelle Lee’s record for most sixes in a
Speaking after the New Zealand Tpair now holds seven centu- calendar year (29). She also became LEGACY IN THE MAKING
match, Rawal offered a glimpse into ry stands in just 23 ODI innings — the first Indian woman to register
their on-field chemistry. “The con- matching the elite Australian duo of three consecutive 50-plus scores in s India heads into the semi-fi-
versations are pretty simple,” she Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy, ODI World Cups since Harmanpreet nals, the spotlight will inev-
said. “She lets me do what I do best, as well as South Africa’s Tazmin Brits Kaur in 2017. Aitably return to its openers.
and I don’t interfere in what she does and Laura Wolvaardt. The all-time Rawal, meanwhile, has been re- Their form and confidence could well
best. Most of our chats are about leaders remain Australia’s Belinda writing records of her own. Her cen- decide whether India finally ends its
calculations — how to build a total Clark and Lisa Keightley, with 10 tury against New Zealand made her long wait for a Women’s World Cup
or chase in smaller parts. Smriti is stands from 66 innings, but Mandha- the joint-fastest batter in women’s title.
great with numbers, and I just chip in na and Rawal’s strike rate of success ODI history to reach 1,000 runs — For now, Smriti Mandhana and
where I can. We keep it simple, and suggests they could soon overtake accomplishing the feat in just 23 in- Pratika Rawal have already achieved
that works for us.” them. nings. With 1,123 runs at an average something far greater than records
That simplicity has yielded stag- In 2025 alone, they have five-cen- above 50, she has already cemented — they’ve redefined how India be-
gering results. Their stand of 212 tury partnerships across formats her place among India’s top emerg- gins its innings. Their partnership,
runs against the White Ferns was not — equalling Clark and Keightley’s ing batters. built on trust, communication, and
only India’s highest in the World Cup all-wicket record from 2000. Their At 29, Smriti Mandhana contin- shared ambition, is not just winning
but also the first time both Indian ability to adapt to match situations ues to lead by example. Her batting matches; it’s reshaping the story of
openers scored centuries in a World — from anchoring in early overs to combines classical grace with mod- Indian women’s cricket itself.

www.TheIndianEYE.com