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Ahead of the India vs New Zealand clash in the , batting stars Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine shared mutual respect and warm words, highlighting their admiration for each other’s skill and temperament.
Smriti Mandhana on Sophie Devine
Smriti recalled watching Sophie as a teenager and was inspired by her powerful hitting. “Whenever we are playing against Sophie Devine, it’s like drop anyone but do not drop Sophie,” she said. Smriti highlighted a memorable moment watching Sophie hit the fastest fifty against India when she was a teenager. Smriti even took a photo with Sophie to compare their muscles. She lauded Sophie for leaving a significant legacy in New Zealand and world cricket.
“I remember watching her as a 17-18-year-old when she hit the fastest 50 against India at Chinnaswamy. I took a photo with her so that I could compare my muscles with hers, and I want to hit sixes like her. She’s left a legacy behind for New Zealand and world cricket,” added Smriti.
Sophie Devine on Smriti Mandhana
In return, Sophie expressed profound admiration for Smriti’s consistency and calmness under pressure. “I have so much respect for Smriti and what she goes through daily – the fans and all the support she has. Her ability to remain calm and consistent is remarkable.” Sophie spoke about watching Smriti’s thorough preparation and batting technique in training, which deepened her respect. As opposition captain, Sophie admitted it’s tough to find weaknesses in a player of Smriti’s quality, making the contest exciting: “You want to compete against the best players in their best form.”
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Sophie labeled Smriti as “probably the most in-form player in the world at the moment” and expressed enthusiasm to face India in Navi Mumbai. While optimistic about having New Zealand supporters in attendance, she acknowledged the host crowd would likely outnumber them but still considered the occasion “a really awesome” one.
This exchange between two of women’s cricket’s premier batters exemplifies the sportsmanship and competitive spirit driving the Women’s World Cup 2025 and sets the tone for an exciting India-New Zealand showdown.
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This article was first published at , a Cricket Times company.
