'We want to dominate world cricket' - Smriti Mandhana on India's huge aspirations

India Women secured a 2-1 clinch against hosts Australia in the ongoing multi-format tour, with a win in the third and final T20I at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, February 21. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana believes that the Women in Blue are entering a new chapter in their approach towards the game across all three formats.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had always shown promise until they finally broke the jinx and lifted their maiden World Cup title in 2025. Within a span of only a few more months, another World Cup, this time in the T20 format, awaits them, and they will be looking to make it two in two. Mandhana believes that being consistent is the key to achieving the aspirations of dominance that they hold.

"This Indian team is something which we have spoken about is trying to be consistent. Don't think about opposition or what's happened in the past. So we've beaten this, we've beaten that. I feel that's not very important now. I think we are on the verge of a transition where we want to dominate world cricket. And whoever we beat, wherever we beat, that doesn't matter. We just want to be consistent in beating them and being at the top," Smriti said via BCCI.tv.

"This year is a T20 year. Last year was a one-day year where we played a lot of one-day cricket. So coming into this year, for sure, I feel like we are a well-settled ODI squad, but we are still working on our T20 game and also what's our best XI and what's our best 15 in terms of T20s. For sure, WPL has played a huge role for us to get better at T20s," she added.

Mandhana top-scored in the T20Is, scoring 129 runs in three innings at an average of 64.50 and a best of 82 in the series decider. However, she feels that she will have to keep working on her game in this format because it does not come naturally to her, unlike 50-over cricket. Given the important multinational event lying ahead, the Maharashtra-born is hoping to continue the momentum into fruitful results.

"But again, for me as well, this is one format which I always have to keep working hard on because one-day cricket and Test matches are very natural [to me]. But T20s, I always feel like I have to be ahead of the game. So it's good to start the year with the win, especially knowing it's a World Cup year. And again, we're going to play in England, overseas conditions. So starting your year with an overseas T20 series win is a good thing. And I hope this week keeps the momentum going."