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Smriti Mandhana: Asian Games Gold Shouldn't Mask T20 Weaknesses, Eyes 2028 Olympics
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Moneycontrol•24-09-2026, 13:58
Smriti Mandhana: Asian Games Gold Shouldn't Mask T20 Weaknesses, Eyes 2028 Olympics
- •Smriti Mandhana emphasizes that recent successes like the Asia Cup and Asian Games gold shouldn't hide the need for significant improvements in India's T20 cricket.
- •Despite defending their Asian Games gold medal, Mandhana stresses the team must address shortcomings to compete for an Olympic medal at Los Angeles 2028.
- •Mandhana played a starring role in the final, scoring 79 off 45 balls, and expressed immense pride in representing India and securing the first gold medal for the contingent.
- •She highlighted her strong partnership with Shafali Verma, built on mutual understanding of each other's game, and sees the Olympics as a huge motivation.
- •As vice-captain, Mandhana believes in mentoring younger players and focusing on performance, stating that the next two years are crucial for building a consistent T20 side.
Key Questions Answered
Smriti Mandhana stated that winning the Asia Cup and Asian Games should not mask India's previous T20 shortcomings, pointing out that two World Cup exits before the semi-finals mean the team has significant work to do ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Smriti Mandhana played a starring role in the final against Sri Lanka on September 22, scoring 79 runs off 45 balls to help secure the gold medal for India.
Smriti Mandhana became the highest run-scorer in women's T20Is by surpassing New Zealand's Suzie Bates, and she also breached the 100-sixes mark in women's T20Is during the tournament.
