Smriti Mandhana smashed a 24-ball half-century, fastest by an Indian woman, in the first T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Wednesday. But, India wome﷽n lost the three-match series opener by 23 runs at the Westpac Stadium.
Later at the same venue, the men’s team also suffered a loss in the first T20I, an embarrassing 80-run defeat to go down 0-1 in the three-match series.
After Men in Blue’s match, Smirti Mandhana, the World no. 1 batter in women’s cricket, featured on Chahal TV, a chat show hosted by Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
Mandhaꦗna hilariously thanked Chahal for inspiring her with his fearless batting in 🐠the fourth ODI against the Blackcaps in Hamilton.
“I was so inspired after looking at your batting in the 4th ODI that I told myself that I need to develop my game. You are my batting inspiration,” the left-handed batswoman said while trying to control her laughter. In his reply, Yuzi said, “She has chosen the perfect batsman to improve her batting.”
World No 1 batter makes her debut on Chahal TV has been taking her batting inspiration from this leg spinner 😂😂. Find out who it is in this fun segment of TV – by
Full video 📽️📽️
— BCCI (@BCCI)
Chahal top-scored for India in the Hamilton ODI – 18 (not-out). He struck three boundaries in his 37-ball knock.
After being put in to bat, India were bowled out for mere 92 runs in 30.5 overs with seven of their ꦕbatsmen dismissed for a single digit score.
New Zealand chased doꦕwn the target in 14.4 overs with eight wickets in hand. However, India won the fifth and⭕ final ODI by 35 runs in Wellington to clinch the five-match ODI series 4-1.
