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.
The left-handed batter has been a star player for the Indian side and in her short career has already become the No. 1 batter in the ODI Batting Rankings.
The 21-year-old has played in 30 T20Is, taking 28 wickets with her off-spin at an average 22.92. She has also featured in 48 ODIs, taking 56 wickets at an average 27.39 with a best of six for 20. She also averages 41.81 with the bat in ODI cricket.
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan was named the international T20 bowler of the year.
India's best cricketers and future stars will be joined by international players from England, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in a four-match tri-series.
Heaping praises on Radha Yadav, Mandhana said she had developed into a very good T20 bowler.
