Former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra expressed confidence that Smriti Mandhana will perform well in the 2025 World Cup final against South Africa on Sunday, November 2. Chopra believes the left-hander doesn’t require extra training ahead of the big game, as she is well aware of her role and what needs to be done.
Mandhana has been India’s top run-getter in the tournament and the second-highest overall, amassing 389 runs in eight innings at an impressive average of 55.57. Her highest score of 109 off 95 balls came against New Zealand at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, laying the platform for India’s vital win. She also maintains a solid strike rate of 102.36.
In her recent YouTube video, the 48-year-old noted that India remains a serious challenge for South Africa, regardless of whether they bat first or chase. She added:
“Smriti Mandhana doesn’t need to work extra. She is ready for the contest and she knows how to play in big games. The biggest factor I saw in the game against Australia was calmness. Remember, Harman said she would have batted had she won the toss in the semi-final. That means the players in the team know how to make a 300+ score if they are batting first. As far as run-chases go, we have seen the Indian team.”
“South Africa Yet To Play In Navi Mumbai” – Anjum Chopra Ahead Of 2025 World Cup Final
Chopra further noted that India holds an advantage since they are familiar with the local conditions. Elaborating on this point, she said:
“Talking about bowlers. India have been weak against left-arm spin. I wouldn’t call it a weakness because if they played with caution, it wouldn’t have been a problem. India knows how to play spin. The element which will be an important one is South Africa haven’t yet played in Navi Mumbai. India have.”
“If we match, South Africa and India both have capable players. Both have batting and bowling depth. South Africa have a deeper bowling unit. India fielded six bowlers in the semi-final and are likely to keep it the same. South Africa’s bowling might be deeper but India have the home advantage.”
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