‘Sometimes it’s an advantage, new coaching staff comes with new tips and new positives’ – Smriti Mandhana on absence of head coach

Smriti Mandhana. (Photo Source: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

In the face of adversity, the Indian women’s cricket team continues to persevere and find the silver lining, as vice-captain Smriti Mandhana shares her optimism about the ongoing coach vacancy. The head coach’s absence for more than six months has not affected the team’s spirit at all and Team India looks at it as an opportunity to glean insights from a diverse set of coaching staff.

Since the departure of Ramesh Powar in December last year, the Indian women’s cricket team has been without a head coach. This void even persisted during the T20 World Cup in February, where the players showcased their tenacity despite the absence of a full-time coaching staff.

“It’s not a very big thing in terms of players. We want to play the best brand of cricket we can. All the coaching staff that has come in has been really helpful,” Mandhana asserted during the pre-match press conference ahead of India’s third ODI against Bangladesh.

The temporary coaching staff has stepped in admirably and lent valuable guidance to the players. Mandhana, being the open-minded player she is, embraces the change, stating,

“Sometimes it’s an advantage; new coaching staff comes with new tips and new positives. If I take it very positively, then it’s a good thing.”

In a positive development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently decided to transition from ad-hoc appointments to long-term contracts for Indian women’s cricket team support staff. This move aims to provide stability and continuity to the team’s coaching structure.

While the team awaits a permanent head coach, there are speculations about the seasoned domestic stalwart Amol Muzumdar being the top contender for the position. The team remains focused on their games, as Mandhana remarked,

“How we play our brand of cricket is more important. We will have to wait for the series to finish and see what happens.”

Despite Mandhana’s positive outlook on the coaching situation, her individual performance in the ongoing series against Bangladesh has been below par. While she has been batting well in the nets and getting starts in the matches, she has not been able to convert those starts into a big knock and it’s been a challenge for her.

However, she finds comfort in her improved batting performance in the last match, where she got the team off to a decent start. After India’s first-ever Women’s ODI loss to Bangladesh in the series opener, Mandhana acknowledges the growth of the Bangladesh side and their strong bowling attack.

“They have grown since the Asia Cup last year, and their bowling attack on these wickets is good,” she remarked.

She emphasizes the need for a collective team effort, especially in batting, to set a competitive total and aims to excel in all three departments to secure victory. Despite the uncertainty of the coaching situation, Indian women’s cricket team remains resilient, determined, and united, driving them forward to new heights of success.