Smriti Mandhana has expressed her belief that the competitive gap between India and Australia in women's cricket has significantly decreased. This change is attributed to increased exposure through leagues such as the Women's Big Bash League and the Women's Premier League. She noted that India's consistent development over the last five to six years has led to matches between the two teams being determined more by daily performance than by any substantial difference in skill. Mandhana shared these thoughts with reporters prior to India's Women's T20 World Cup match against Australia in London.

India is set to compete against Australia in a pivotal ICC Women's T20 World Cup Group A match at Lord's in London on Sunday. The outcome of this game is crucial for semi-final qualification, with a victory ensuring India's place in the final four.

"I believe the gap has certainly narrowed, thanks to several of our players participating in the Big Bash and the WPL, sharing their experiences. The Indian team's performance over the last four to five years has been a gradual build-up, not just in the last two years. I think we have played steadily, and now, especially in T20 cricket, it often comes down to which team performs better on the day," Mandhana stated.

India will draw strength from their recent 2-1 T20I series victory over Australia earlier this year on their home turf. After the series was tied at 1-1, India clinched the decisive match in Adelaide, with Mandhana scoring a remarkable 82 runs off 55 balls, earning her the Player of the Match title.

Mandhana expressed that the team would carry confidence from their recent T20 success in Australia into this crucial match. She credited the Women's Premier League for enhancing Indian players' ability to manage high-pressure situations and expressed optimism that the team would leverage these experiences to perform at their best in this must-win game.

Mandhana acknowledged the importance of the upcoming match against Australia, emphasizing the team's commitment to their strategies, hard work, and confidence drawn from their recent successes against the reigning champions.

"We are all eagerly anticipating this match. It's crucial for us, a must-win to advance. That said, we will adhere to our processes, work diligently, and aim to deliver our best performance. This match is significant, and I believe everyone understands that. However, we have performed well against them in the past, and we will carry that confidence forward," Mandhana concluded.