"I still believe it's going to be Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet" - S Sreesanth on India's X-factors in 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
S Sreesanth has picked Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana as the likely X-factors for India in the ongoing 2024 Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE. He expressed confidence about Harmanpreet doing an encore of her 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final knock against Australia.
India begin their T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Dubai on Friday, October 4. They will subsequently face Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia in their remaining Group A fixtures.
During an interaction on Star Sports, Sreesanth was asked to pick the X-factors for India heading into the tournament.
"I think Harmanpreet the captain herself because I think she is going to come out like the 2018 (2017) innings, which she played in the 50-over World Cup. I have a strong feeling that she will come up with some magic. Jemi (Jemimah Rodrigues) has been doing really well but I still believe it's going to be Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet," he replied (2:20).
With 3,493 runs at a strike rate of 122.51 in 135 innings, Mandhana is the second-highest run-getter in women's T20Is. Harmanpreet, who has amassed 3,426 runs at a strike rate of 107.32 in 153 innings, is third on that list, with Suzie Bates (4,434) occupying the top spot.
"I will only request the women's team to just keep believing in their preparations and ability" - S Sreesanth
In the same interaction, S Sreesanth was asked about his advice to the Indian women's team.
"I don't want to give any advice to the women's team. I will only request the women's team to just keep believing in their preparations and ability. Nobody can defeat us if you have that in your mind. Visualize and see that trophy sitting in the dressing room after the final of the World Cup," he responded (3:50).
The former India pacer noted that the entire country believes in Harmanpreet Kaur and company.
"Let it be any team we are playing, our women's cricket team, especially Harmanpreet as the captain, she is a leader, not just a captain, so I believe in her, the entire nation believes in her and the entire team that has gone to win the World Cup," Sreesanth observed.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Women in Blue have gone to lift the T20 World Cup trophy and not just to participate in the tournament.
"I will not say to play the World Cup. Our team has gone there to win the World Cup. In fact, I am getting goosebumps too. I totally believe in the team and I am sure Harmanpreet will come out as this victorious women's World Cup captain, and we all will be clapping and saluting her," he said.
Sreesanth expressed confidence about the Indian women's team repeating the men's team's heroics by winning the T20 World Cup in the same year. He pointed out that the West Indies achieved that distinction in 2016.