Smriti Mandhana's Maiden T20I Century Fuels Ambitions for Further Success, Cites Ongoing Improvement

Smriti Mandhana said that her T20I batting is still a work in progress after scoring her maiden hundred in the format on Saturday, June 28. Mandhana scored the fifth-fastest hundred in women's T20Is and became the second Indian batter to score a century in the format.

The southpaw scored 112 runs off 62 balls to help India secure a 97-run win against England. Speaking after the win, as quoted by the ICC, Mandhana said that she needs to keep pushing as a batter in T20Is as it is a format that isn't natural to her as she is more of a timer of the ball than being a big-hitter.

"It's a nice feeling because, of course, this format is something which, for me as a batter, I need to keep pushing and keep improving," said Mandhana.

"It's not a very natural format for me because I like to time the ball, not a big hitter of the ball, and for the last six years, it's always a work in progress and it's still a work in progress."

The Indian opener said that getting a T20I hundred is a great feeling and revealed that she is working on her power-hitting.

"So, to actually get a hundred in this format, of course, getting it before in Test cricket and One Day cricket which are more suited to my batting [was significant as well], but getting it in this format is pretty special because it's not one of my strengths. I mean, the improvement and I'm trying to work a lot on my power hitting and to see that come through, which is a really nice feeling," said Mandhana.

Does captaincy affect Mandhana's batting?

Mandhana had to step in for Harmanpreet Kaur as the Indian captain was rested as a precautionary measure. The opener said that the extra responsibility of being captain doesn't affect her batting.

"As a batter, it doesn't change a lot. You don't think that you are captaining and you bat differently. Whenever you have the bat in hand, you have to do the job for the team regardless of the position you are in, so I'm really happy that I could contribute today," said Mandhana.

India and England will square off in the second T20I on July 1.