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    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.

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