Former India cricketer Reema Malhotra has urged Smriti Mandhana to score a double century in the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final against Australia. She highlighted that Rohit Sharma has played multiple such knocks in ODIs.
India will face Australia in the second semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, October 30. Mandhana will potentially open with Shafali Verma, who has been added to the squad as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal.
During an interaction on the Star Sports show *Game Plan*, Malhotra was asked whether Pratika’s absence would put additional pressure on Mandhana. She responded, “Rohit Sharma has scored double centuries in ODIs. Smriti has to do the same thing. She has to score a century for herself and a century for Pratika. The responsibility will be there. However, it’s something that is not in anyone’s hands.”
The former India all-rounder noted that the left-handed opener has scored a double century in junior cricket and that the Women in Blue need her to replicate that effort now.
“You have the bat in your hand and the 50 overs in front of you. You are scoring 110-120, score a little more than that. Smriti has to play 50 overs and she can do that. She was the first player to score a double century in domestic cricket. If she could do it then, India need it now,” Malhotra observed.
With 365 runs at an average of 60.83 in seven innings, Smriti Mandhana is the highest run-getter in the Women’s World Cup 2025. She has amassed 996 runs at an average of 49.80 in 20 ODI innings against Australia.
### “This is not the Smriti Mandhana of 2024” – Reema Malhotra on opener’s potential battle with Ashleigh Gardner
In the same interaction, Reema Malhotra was asked about Smriti Mandhana’s potential battle with Ashleigh Gardner in the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final.
“She has played Gardner exceptionally well in the last few matches. Whether it’s a left-arm spinner or an off-spinner, this is not the Smriti Mandhana of 2024. This is Smriti 2.0, who has worked on it. She plays all the shots. So I don’t think it will be a challenge,” she replied.
The cricketer-turned-commentator was also asked about Mandhana’s potential contest with Sophie Molineux, considering the left-arm spinner had dismissed the Indian vice-captain in the league game between the two sides.
“It will be challenging, but Smriti gave her wicket to Molineux after scoring runs. I think Smriti only hit 15 to 16 runs in her first over. I feel the approach will be the same here. Whichever Australian bowler comes, you will have to attack them. If you allow any Australian bowler to get on top of you, they will bowl their entire 10 overs at one spot,” Malhotra responded.
To conclude, Reema Malhotra recalled Meg Lanning saying that Australia were out of plans when Harmanpreet Kaur was smashing them in the Women’s World Cup 2017 semi-final. She expressed hope that Alyssa Healy or Tahlia McGrath, whoever captains Australia, will have similar words for Mandhana and Harmanpreet in the post-match presentation of the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final.
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