India Women, led by Smriti Mandhana, end half a decade-long wait by registering their first bilateral T20I series win at home in the last five years. They do so by thrashing West Indies Women in the series decider by galloping 60 runs. In the process, India Women also complete their fourth T20I win against West Indies Women at home and 15th overall in 24 WT20Is.  

Prior to this series win, India's last series win at home came way back in October 2019 against South Africa Women. 

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Mandhana's opens up on India's emphatic T20I series win

After receiving a brutal 9-wicket hammering in the second WT20I, the pressure was back on the Smriti Mandhana-led Indian side. With three consecutive series defeats against England, Australia, and South Africa in the past 12 months, the fourth white-ball home series defeat looked imminent.

But speaking at a press conference, the Indian skipper revealed that the team had a pep talk ahead of the third WT20I and sensed that they had the opportunity to win a T20I series at home after five long years.

“It’s been five years since we haven’t won a T20I series in India. That was the chat earlier in the day. We had the chance to do it after 5 years. Need to keep doing the right things now. With the kind of batting line-up, we have some new youngsters. So need to take responsibility. More than timing the ball, I try to put my head into playing according to the situation."

Mandhana was in dominant form with the bat in the series returning impressive scores of 64, 63, and 77. She played an instrumental role in steering India to a famous 2-1 win against West Indies thus putting an end to their bleak streak in this format at home. Her carnage with the bat followed by her tactical brilliance on the field saved the day for the home side in the do-or-die decider clash on Thursday. 

Mandhana lauds Richa Ghosh for her record-breaking blitzkreig

Both Mandhana and Richa were at their brutal best with the bat on the third and final WT20I. The duo launched a scathing assault on the Windies Women bowlers to power India to their highest-ever WT20I score of 217-4. Richa hammered a blistering 18-ball fifty and equaled the record for achieving the fastest WT20I fifty. In her short-lived entertaining knock, Richa only lasted 21 balls but went on to make a match-defining contribution of 54 runs with the help of three boundaries and five sixes.

Following the end of the match, the Indian skipper heaped endless praise on the youngster and lauded her for notching up a record-breaking performance at the DY Patil Stadium. Being conscious of the dew factor, Mandhana appreciated how her entire team worked collectively in all departments to negate that impending threat from dew.  

“Liked the way Richa Ghosh batted. The way the girls stepped up today, they played with a lot of intent. I wouldn’t have been able to that playing my second or third match."

India Women's next white-ball assignment against West Indies will commence with a three-match WODI series starting on December 22 at Vadodara.