Smriti Mandhana's first-ever pink ball hundred (Source: @KKRiders/x.com)
In Test whites, wearing the no. 18 jersey, smashing cover drives with inborn brilliance often reminds fans of Virat Kohli. But there is another jersey number 18, who creates the same magic whenever she steps into the field, Smriti Mandhana.
The world saw her brilliance in the limited-over cricket, but Smriti Mandhana is a whole different beast in the longest format. Test cricket demands patience, maturity, elegance, and precision, and she not only ticks every box but also sets a remarkably high standard with her extraordinary brilliance.
The red balls unveil thrills, but the pink ball Test format challenges batters to come out of their comfort zone and face the challenge. In 2021, when India Women's first played a pink ball Test against Australia, the ace batter conquered with a stunning hundred. Before the rivals lock horns in another pink ball Test, let’s relive how Smriti haunted the Australian bowlers on that day.
Australia arrive to rule the pink ball, but Smriti Mandhana writes her own script
The game of cricket arrived with the traditional Test format and went through several revolutions, but the oldest format remained the best of the game. Shorter formats were introduced later on, but the thrills of Test cricket remained untouchable. But the richest format of the game welcomed something new.
In 2015, the pink ball format was introduced into Test cricket, and it stepped into the women’s cricket world in 2017. The Women's Ashes witnessed its first taste of the format, giving Australia early experience under the lights. In contrast, India women played their first-ever pink-ball Test only in 2021.
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Facing Australia on their home soil is always tough, but the challenge became much harder for the Women in Blue as the spectacle was scheduled to happen in the pink ball format.
With their experience in day-night Tests at home, Australia entered the contest as clear favourites, but Smriti Mandhana once again proved that history in sport is created not by favourites, but by extraordinary talent.
A classic 127 - Smriti Mandhana rewrites history in pink ball format
As the titans stepped into the field, the Carrara Oval crowd expected pure Aussie dominance, but the Indian brilliance scripted a whole different story. After winning the toss, Australia Women pushed the Women in Blue to bat first, without realizing what was lying ahead for them.
Stepping into the field, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma came to open the innings, and the duo stitched a 93-run opening partnership. That already troubled Australian bowlers, but the real threat was already brewing on the pitch.
Under the lights, while facing the pink-ball challenges, Smriti Mandhana looked absolutely effortless. She stayed, controlled the game, showcased her effortless moves, putting the opponent under pressure. Reaching a sublime fifty in 51 deliveries, she kept hitting hard.
Making the mighty Australian bowling attack look toothless, Smriti Mandhana continued her dominance on Day 2 right from where she had left off on Day 1. With a magnificent hundred in 170 deliveries, Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian women's batter to score a hundred in pink ball Test.
The Aussie bowlers tried all weapons, but the Indian batter looked unstoppable with her exceptional form. But Ashleigh Gardner finally stopped her chariot as Smriti departed, playing a fascinating knock of 127 runs in 216 balls with 22 boundaries and one over-boundary.
Hundreds are always special, especially in the longest format, but this 127-run knock still stands apart from all. On the Australian soil, when India was standing against a new challenge, Smriti Mandhana stepped in and guided India to tightened their grips amidst the odds.
Draw on paper, but India celebrate a moral triumph
Is Test cricket all about a battle between bat and ball, which tests grit? The answer will be no, as the battle is much bigger and the challenges are fiercer. In that match, Team India declared their first innings in 377 runs, and Australia Women were bowled out for 241.
Pooja Vastrakar led the charge, with strong support from Jhulan Goswami’s economical spell and Meghna Singh’s impressive bowling performance. In the second innings, the Women in Blue kept the domination alive as they declared their innings in 135 runs.
Chasing down the total, the home side was under pressure, but the match ended without a result due to rain interruption. With a 36/2, Australia survived from a shameful defeat as the match ended in a draw.
For those who are unversed in cricket, that is just a draw, but for those who breathe through the game, it was Team India’s uncredited domination. Throughout the match, Australia struggled as India women delivered their masterclass with both bat and ball.
Massive parts of the game were lost due to rain, and that forced the match’s fate towards a disappointing draw. Even within the unwanted result, Team India dared to look into Australia’s eyes and turned heads in their maiden pink-ball outing. Regardless of the official outcome, Team India walked away with a moral victory while fighting the psychological battle.
Another chapter of the pink ball rivalry unfolds in Perth
Since the first instance of the pink-ball Test to the present day, Team India has evolved significantly and is now set to return to the ground where it all began. After 2021, India Women are all set to face Australia in a pink ball Test on March 6.
In recent times, the Women in Blue turned heads with their sublime forms in Test cricket, but the real job is yet to be done. Four years back, India Women faced a frustrating draw against the Aussies, but this time, they will try hard to change their fortune.
Australia are ready to present a full platter of tough challenges, but the India women's team know how to rise above them and keep their nerves in control. As Perth is set to host the clash, the cricket world is set to witness another epic Test thriller.
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