WPL`s most expensive buy Smriti Mandhana may be going through a lean patch with Royal Challengers Bangalore making a horror start, but the legendary Ellyse Perry backed her skipper saying she just needs a chance to “find her feet” in the T20 competition.
Mandhana, who was bought for Rs 3.4 crore in the inaugural WPL auction, has scored 35, 23, 18 and 4 as RCB suffered four straight losses in the tournament so far.
“Knowing Smriti and how proud and responsible she is for her own game, there`s probably no more pressure on her than what she is putting on herself,” Perry said after they endured their fourth loss on the trot with a 10-wicket hammering by UP Warriorz here on Friday.
Also Read: We were below par: Smriti Mandhana
The Indian team vice-captain is leading a star-studded RCB side with the likes of Perry, Sophie Devine and Heather Knight playing under her. Perry, the six-time T20 World Cup winner, hoped the Indian would overcome this phase and come out with a “better version” of herself.
“It`s a ginormous task to come into a brand new competition and play with a group of players that she has never played with before and try and make that all gel in a matter of a couple of days since she joined the group,” the 32-year-old said.
“I think she`s a great captain too. She just needs a chance to find her feet in the tournament and she will no doubt. But the bigger picture (is), it`s just going to mean we are going to see an even better version of Smriti after this.
“There`s so much that she has learned from this competition already, both as a captain and as a batter, to make her even better in the future. She`s only a youngster right.”
Smriti, on the other hand, has taken the blame for her team`s poor show. “In the last four games, it`s been happening. We start well and then lose a cluster of wickets. I take the blame as well,” Smriti said.
“Need to get runs on the board for the bowlers to defend. Overs 7-15 we spoke about getting 7-8 per over. We`re trying to get a balanced team. Let`s see how it goes.”
Bottom-rung RCB will next face Delhi Capitals at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever