Smriti Mandhana (AP Photo)

Few scenes in women’s cricket are so convincing Smriti Mandhana In full flow for India. The beautiful left-hander was at her best in India’s historic Test win at Lord’s and scored two half-centuries to help register a memorable win over England. In an interview with TOI, the 29-year-old talked about India’s historic win at Lord’s, lessons from repeated T20 World Cup disappointments, the impact of the WPL and why she feels ready to captain India when the opportunity arises. Part…What does it mean to be a part of India’s first women’s Test at Lord’s and contribute significantly to the win?To be a part of the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s and more importantly, to win it, was amazing. It was special to contribute to India’s historic victory. We all dreamed of playing Test cricket as children, so doing it at Lord’s makes it even more memorable.Yastika Bhatia You are credited for helping in his recovery after ACL surgery. What did you say to him?Knee injury is very difficult for any player. In Yastika’s case, it happened before the home World Cup, which made it even more difficult. I told him how my own ACL injury in 2017 helped me grow as both a person and an athlete. Some of my best cricket came after that setback. I thought she would connect with it and stay motivated during the rehabilitation process.Why do you think India made an early exit from the T20 World Cup?It is important to introspect and learn from mistakes. Unfortunately, we have not learned enough from our past mistakes and continue to repeat them. Going forward, there needs to be a clear roadmap leading up to the 2028 T20 World Cup as to how we want to approach the format and what we need to do as a team.There is speculation about the change of captaincy. If you are asked, are you ready to lead India?yes of course. I am ready.In four seasons of the WPL, there has been no significant improvement in India’s T20 results. Has the league provided enough Indian talent?I think the WPL has produced a lot of new talent and many players have made it to the national team. However, I feel that they have not always been used to their best potential.You have led RCB to consecutive WPL titles. What is your leadership philosophy?For me, creating a positive team culture is most important. Every player should feel comfortable expressing themselves and being who they are. When people feel valued and trusted, they perform better.You have consistently performed well in major tournaments. Do big events bring out the best in you?Work on this is in progress. Over the last few years, I have felt quite calm about my cricket, be it a big tournament or a bilateral series. That peace has helped me focus on doing my job for the team.As India’s leading batsman, do you feel the burden of expectations?There are many good batsmen in our team. Whenever you pick up the bat for India, there is pressure to help your team win. But I enjoy that pressure. After all, what’s the fun of playing a game if there’s no pressure?What role has ICC President Jay Shah played in the development of women’s cricket?Jay sir has played a vital role in the progress of women’s cricket not only in India but globally.