The difficult period for the Indian team started with a morale-shattering defeat to New Zealand in its opening match of the T20 World Cup. On Thursday, the team exacted revenge of sorts by beating the recently-crowned World Champions and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
India will go into the T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, with Smriti Mandhana the vice-captain.
India stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana stated that the team won't take their semi-final opponent lightly after their group stage concluded on an unbeaten note.
Bumrah edged out compatriot Rohit Sharma and Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz for the award in what was a competitive month of cricket, culminating in India’s T20 World Cup win in Barbados.
Renowned cricketer Smriti Mandhana recently celebrated five years of togetherness with her boyfriend and music composer Palash Muchhal.
England have already taken a lead of 1-0 in the ongoing T20I series against India.
The T20I series will be played in Guwahati from March 4.
Chasing a below-par 162, India broke little sweat with opener Smriti Mandhana (63) leading the charge in the company of skipper Mithali Raj (47 not out) and Punam Raut (32) to reach the target comfortably.
Apart from Mandhana, BPXI wicket-keeper R Kalpana is also in the ODI squad and she could also benefit from playing in the practice game.
Mandhana, on Friday, said that Raman has given her targets to bat for a specific number of overs to develop her patience at the crease.
