‘Can’t Repeat These Mistakes’: Mandhana Eyes Quick Turnaround Before World Cup

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana believes the team's inability to sustain pressure through dot balls proved costly in their six-wicket defeat to England in the third T20I, a lesson she hopes the side will quickly absorb before the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup .

The loss in Taunton handed England a 2-1 series victory and served as a timely reality check for India just days before the global tournament begins. While the visitors made an ideal start with the ball, reducing England to 35 for 3 , they were unable to maintain control as the hosts staged a remarkable recovery.

A match-winning 137-run partnership between Alice Capsey and Heather Knight transformed the contest. Capsey's fluent 82 and Knight's unbeaten 70 guided England to a successful chase of India's challenging total of 180 for five , exposing an area that Mandhana believes requires immediate attention.

Reflecting on the defeat, Mandhana acknowledged that India's bowlers failed to create enough scoreboard pressure after the early breakthroughs. She credited England's batters for playing quality cricket but felt India missed opportunities to tighten the contest by stringing together dot balls during the crucial middle overs.

The defeat, however, did not overshadow the positives India can carry into the World Cup. One of the biggest encouraging signs was captain Harmanpreet Kaur's return to form . Harmanpreet produced a commanding 56 off 40 deliveries , anchoring the innings and helping India post a competitive score.

Mandhana was full of praise for her skipper, describing her innings as a reminder of the impact Harmanpreet Kaur can have when at her best. She also expressed confidence in the batting unit as a whole, noting that several key players, including Jemimah Rodrigues , appear to be in strong touch at exactly the right time.

With the Women's T20 World Cup now firmly in focus, India will open their campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14 . Yet Mandhana was keen to shift attention away from the traditional rivalry and towards the tournament as a whole.

According to her, the World Cup deserves the spotlight rather than any single fixture. While acknowledging the excitement that always surrounds an India-Pakistan clash , she emphasised the importance of celebrating the entire competition and showcasing the growth of women's cricket on the biggest stage.

India may have ended the England series on a disappointing note, but the defeat has provided valuable lessons ahead of the World Cup . As the countdown gathers pace, Mandhana and her teammates will hope that the mistakes made in Taunton become the foundation for a stronger and more disciplined campaign when the stakes are highest.