England vs India: All our efforts in ODI series is for Jhulan Goswami, says Smriti Mandhana
India Today
Smriti Mandhana said that all the efforts by India are for Jhulan Goswami in the ODI series against England. Goswami returned with the figures of 1/20 in her 10 overs, including two maidens. India defeated England by 7 wickets to take an early lead in the 3-match series.
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said that all the efforts by the team are for veteran fast bowler Jhulan Goswami in the ODI series against England.
The 39-year-old Jhulan Goswami is the latest outgoing India player after Mithali Raj, who retired from all formats earlier this year. Goswami will get a farewell at the end of the ODI series at Lord's.
"I want to say that this (ODI) series is for Jhulu di (Jhulan Goswani). Her bowling was amazing. All our efforts in this series will be for Jhulu di," Mandhana said after India won the first ODI.
India took an early lead 1-0 in the three-match ODI series against England after Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia and Harmanpreet Kaur scored a fifty each to give India a seven-wicket win at Hove on Sunday, September 18. Goswami set the platform for the visitors as she returned with the figures of 1/20 in her 10 overs, including two maidens.
Mandhana missed out on hitting her sixth ODI hundred as she fell short by just nine runs. However, the India captain said that she would have been happy had she remained unbeaten at the end. Mandhana also added that ODI is her natural game, unlike in T20Is, where she has to put into effort to take care of her strike rate.
"I would've enjoyed it better with a not-out at the end. Thanks to the supporters for coming out, happy to put out a show for them," she said.
"ODIs are natural for me, T20s I have to put into effort to take care of the strike rate. In ODIs, I can just react. But I'm happy to lay the platform. I'm happy that Harman won the toss. I saw the pitch in the first innings and told myself to cut down on the back-foot play. But didn't hold back too much."
