Vadodara, Dec 22 (NationPress) India captain Harmanpreet Kaur commended her teammates Smriti Mandhana and Renuka Singh for their stellar performances that contributed to a remarkable 211-run victory against West Indies in the first ODI on Sunday.
After being asked to bat first, Mandhana scored 91 runs, hitting 13 fours, while debutant Pratika Rawal added 40 runs and Harleen Deol contributed 44 runs, helping the team reach a total of 314/9 in 50 overs.
Additionally, Mandhana became the first Indian woman to achieve 1600 runs in a single calendar year.
Harmanpreet praised Mandhana, stating that her outstanding form is making batting appear effortless.
"The way Smriti is batting is truly remarkable. It's looking very easy, but believe me, it isn't," the Indian captain remarked following the victory.
In defending the target, senior pacer Renuka Thakur led the bowling attack, finishing with impressive figures of 5-29 in her 10 overs, earning her the Player of the Match award.
"Renuka's bowling has been excellent for many years, and today was exceptional. We've been discussing fielding, and our performance in the last series and today has been commendable," Harmanpreet said about the fast bowler.
Regarding the newly constructed Kotambi Stadium, which hosted its first international match on Sunday, the Indian captain expressed her gratitude to the BCCI for enhancing the infrastructure.
"Facilities in India are superb; we enjoy playing in our home conditions. It's a beautiful ground with great conditions, and we appreciate the BCCI for their support," she added.
After recovering from a knee issue that kept her out of the last two T20Is against West Indies, Harmanpreet thanked the physio team for her recovery.
"I must credit our physiotherapy team; they have been working diligently. I've been facing knee problems for 3-4 months, and I am very grateful to them for getting me fit. Credit also goes to our fielding coach. I am pleased with how things are progressing," she shared.
The second match of the three-game ODI series is set to be played at the same venue on Tuesday.
