The India captain noted increased respect for the sport following the team's 2025 Women's World Cup victory on home soil.
India captain Smriti Mandhana said the respect for women's cricket and the rise of its players as household names have been significant changes since the 2025 Women's World Cup win. According to Telangana Today, Mandhana spoke to JioStar about the impact of the tournament held in India.
Mandhana recalled the final against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. She noted that approximately 1,000 fans gathered outside the team hotel to see them off despite heavy rain, which provided the players with positivity.
Opener Shafali Verma, who earned Player of the Match honours in the final by contributing 87 runs and two wickets, discussed her opening partnership with Mandhana. Verma said the pair has played together since 2019 and can now communicate through eye contact.
Verma added that their long-standing partnership allows them to understand what the team needs and how much to communicate during matches.
