Indian opener Smriti Mandhana feels that Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s reaction to her dismissal has just happened in the heat of the moment, as she badly wants to win the game for the nation and revealed that they would have loved to play a Super Over to have a result in the ODI series.
The final ODI in Bangladesh was an exciting one as both teams had their chances to seal their series, as India was comfortably placed at one stage to win the series just before losing wickets in the packs to let Bangladesh back in the game on their home soil which finally ended on a draw.
Speaking to the media after the end of high-octane games in Bangladesh, Smriti Mandhana said that they would have been happy to play the super over against Bangladesh to decide the winner of the series and asserted that these kinds of close games take Women’s cricket into the globe stage.
“We would love to play a Super Over and I don’t think there was a question that was asked about Super Over to us. It was all decided. But we would’ve loved to play a Super Over. But yeah, I think, the kind of game that happened, I’m sure that it’s good for women’s cricket going forward,” Smriti Mandhana said.
I Wouldn’t Say That It Is Acceptable But When You… Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana defended her captain’s outburst in the middle stating that things happened in the heat of the moment as she was disappointed with the decision of the umpire and reckons that the Indian skipper wants the game badly for the country and said that she was desperate to win the game for India in the 3rd ODI against Bangladesh
“I think it’s just when you play for India, you want to win the match and it happens in the heat of the moment. But I think she wasn’t really happy with the decision given. And she felt that she wasn’t out. So that came about. But yeah, I feel that it’s just the heat of the moment and nothing much,”
“Just knowing Harman as a person and knowing her how much she wants to win for India, I’m sure from the spirit of the game, I wouldn’t say that it is (acceptable), but when you really want that W on the board for India, these things happen,” Smriti Mandhana added.
The incident took place in the 34th over of the Indian innings when Harmanpreet Kaur tried to sweep the leg-spinner. Harmanpreet hit the stumps with her bat after being given an adjusted LBW and also had a go at the umpires on her way to the dressing room and also expressed her disappointment with the Umpire’s decision even during the post-match presentation.
There was no DRS for the entire India’s tour of Bangladesh, which included three Twenty20 Internationals and as many ODIs which is also a reason behind the outburst of the Indian skipper, as the umpires call in the third ODI tilted the series in the favour of the host Bangladesh team.