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Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers are geared up for their clash against Supernovas in the Women's T20 Challenge opener which will be played on Monday (May 23).
Meanwhile ahead of the match, India's star southpaw said that she has been working on her T20 game and looking to play more strokes, keeping in mind the number of shortest format matches scheduled in the next 12 months.
"Personally I have been working on my T20 cricket since we have lot of T20s to play this year. So, trying to play little bit more shots then I used to playing," she said.
"We had a good T20 domestic season, so just looking to continue with this tournament. I'm not thinking about how I will be going about it but I will just try to enjoy as much as I can," she said.
When asked about the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Supernovas, Mandhana said that the spin duo of Sophie Ecclestone and Alana King will pose a challenger but they have their own plans in place.
"...we have our strategies ready, they have a good bowling unit especially the spin line up with Sophie (Ecclestone) and (Alana) King."
Asked if there is any pressure going into the tournament as the defending champions, Mandhana said: "Not really, it is a pretty short tournament. You always get a new team, so definitely not thinking about it and putting unnecessary pressure on ourself, but yeah it would be good to defend the title."
The 25-year-old was also all praise for Maharashtra's unheralded pacer Shraddha Pokharkar, who is one of the new talents in her squad.
"I think three or four years back I saw Shradda (Pokharkar), I always thought she has good potential and now when I saw her one month back, she was brilliant in nets.
"She hits good length and she has a good height, so it is not easy to hit her length. She has a great slower one which is a really big weapon when you play T20, so looking forward to see how she progresses further."
Meanwhile, Supernovas captain Harmanpreet Kaur feels the Women's T20 Challenge will serve as a good platform for seamer Manshi Joshi to prove herself and earn her place back in the Indian team.
The 28-year-old Joshi from Punjab, who had missed the 2020 edition of the tournament after testing positive for Covid-19, has last played for India in March last year.
Joshi played three WODIs against South Africa at home but didn't find a place in the series against England and Australia and also missed out of a spot in India's World Cup squad.
"Last time, unfortunately, she didn't get a chance to play but this time she did well in domestic season and now in the net sessions also she was looking really nice. It is a great opportunity for her," Harmanpreet said during a virtual press-conference.
"For a long time she was not part of Indian side and now if she gets a chance, it is a great platform where you can perform and gates are open for Indian team.
"I am actually very positive the way she is bowling at the net, I hope she will get a chance to play and prove herself." Harmanpreet said Supernovas have a very "balanced" side.
Trailblazers' squad:
Smriti Mandhana (c), Poonam Yadav (vc), Arundhati Reddy, Hayley Matthews, Jemimah Rodrigues, Priyanka Priyadarshini, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, S Meghana, Saiqa Ishaque, Salma Khatun, Sharmin Akhter, Sophia Brown, Sujata Mallik, SB Pokharkar.
Supernovas' squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Taniya Bhatia (VC), Alana King, Ayushi Soni, Chandu V, Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Meghna Singh, Monica Patel, Muskan Malik, Pooja Vastrakar, Priya Punia, Rashi Kanojia, Sophie Ecclestone, Sune Luus, Mansi Joshi.
