Smriti Mandhana Steels For Dubai's Scorching Heat Ahead Of High-Stakes India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Clash

Smriti Mandhana discusses the challenges of playing in Dubai's intense afternoon heat ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup, while also reflecting on the emotions surrounding the India-Pakistan rivalry.

The Indian cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are gearing up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, set to get underway from October 3 (Thursday) in the United Aram Emirates. India will play their campaign starter against New Zealand on October 4. However, it is the high-octane game that India will play against Pakistan in the afternoon heat, which the Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana deems as challenging.

India will face Pakistan in their second match of the tournament in Dubai during the day, which Mandhana considers challenging due to the region's heat. Recently, temperatures in Dubai have approached 40 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels exceeding fifty percent.

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However, Mandhana said that a couple of afternoon training sessions have been scheduled for the team in the lead-up to the match to help the players get accustomed to the conditions.

“The afternoon game is going to be a challenge due to the heat, but when you play for India, there are no excuses. You have to prepare well, and I think we have a couple of afternoon sessions lined up to help us get used to the conditions. By the time we face Pakistan, I’m sure we’ll be ready. Mentally, we need to stay strong and keep pushing, staying hydrated is key. It hasn’t been easy. Coming from India, we are somewhat used to the heat compared to other teams, but the first couple of days were really tiring.”

India-Pakistan Rivalry Driven By Fan Emotions, Not Just Players: Mandhana

Regarding the India-Pakistan rivalry, Mandhana emphasised that the rivalry is fueled more by fan emotions than by player interactions, stating that the intensity stems from the feelings of both nations. She emphasised that while every World Cup match holds significance, the India vs Pakistan contests carry an extra layer of emotional intensity.

“I think the India-Pakistan rivalry is more about the emotions of the fans than anything else. It’s not like the players don’t talk to each other; it’s the emotions from both nations that make it so intense. For me, every World Cup match is special, and we put the same amount of effort into each game. But there’s definitely a lot of emotion attached to the India-Pakistan games," she said.