India Stars Smriti Mandhana And Shafali Verma Warned: 'South Africa Has The Best Bowling Attack'
Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 11:13 ISTShikha Pandey says India openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma face their toughest test against South Africas strong pace attack led by Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne. . .
Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 11:13 ISTShikha Pandey says India openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma face their toughest test against South Africas strong pace attack led by Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp. Rapid ReadRapid ReadSummarized by AI. +Mandhana, Verma brace for stern test vs South Africa pacersIsmail, Kapp pose major threat to India’s opening pairMandhana praised for evolving into a complete T20 batterIndia's star openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana (X/BCCI)Former India pacer Shikha Pandey believes India’s opening combination of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma faces its biggest challenge of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 when the team meets South Africa in a crucial Group A encounter. Having provided India with strong starts throughout the tournament, the duo will now come up against a South African bowling attack that Pandey considers the most formidable in the competition. “India’s opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have given India many strong starts. But they will face their toughest test yet," Pandey was quoted as saying on JioStar. Recommended StoriesNo Virat Kohli Or Rohit Sharma! Smriti Mandhana Only Indian Among 100 Most Influential People In SportsMandhana, Shafali, Shree Charani Power India To Clinical Win Over Netherlands'She's The One Who Tells Me. . . ': How Smriti Mandhana Ensures Shafali Verma Remains CalmMithali Raj Dissects India's Strengths and Weaknesses for ICC Women's T20 World CupWomen’s T20 World Cup:Schedule|Points Table|Most Runs|Most Wickets“South Africa has the best bowling attack in this Women’s T20 World Cup. Their new-ball pair is one of the most dangerous in the tournament. "Pandey highlighted the threat posed by experienced fast bowlers Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp, both of whom have been in impressive form. “Shabnim Ismail has made a strong comeback and she’s bowling with good pace. Marizanne Kapp has already taken three wickets against Pakistan and is bowling with great control. Both will test the Indian openers with swing, seam, and bounce," she said. She also pointed to Ayabonga Khaka’s ability to generate movement away from right-handed batters, making South Africa’s pace attack even more difficult to handle. Problems For Smriti Mandhana And Shafali VermaDiscussing Mandhana’s approach, Pandey noted that the left-hander would need to be disciplined against the moving ball. “Smriti Mandhana has been dismissed in the past trying to drive away from her body, often caught in the slips or behind the stumps. She will need to be selective against the moving ball," she noted. Pandey is also looking forward to a fascinating battle between Ismail and Verma. “Shabnim Ismail vs Shafali Verma will be a spicy contest. Shafali loves a challenge, and Ismail is not afraid to use the bouncer. "The former pacer also praised Mandhana’s remarkable development as a T20 batter, particularly her improved power game. “India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has worked extensively on her power-hitting. A perfect example of that was the WPL final, where we saw her playing shots through deep mid-wicket with great success," she said. “She has started using her power to clear the infield and find boundaries in that region as well. She has also started toying with the field, manipulating placements to her advantage. For someone who was known as a touch player, this is a big shift," Pandey added. According to Pandey, Mandhana’s expanded stroke range has transformed her into a complete T20 batter. “Smriti is now accessing deep square leg, which was never her primary scoring area before. She has also added the conventional sweep to her game. When she steps out, she looks to hit straight, if not she has a plan B of going over covers. Her back-foot play has always been strong, but the way she has added power hitting to her game is remarkable. She is no longer just a timing player; she is now a complete T20 batter who can dominate both sides of the wicket. "(With inputs from Agencies)News18 NewsletterHandpicked stories, in your inboxA newsletter with the best of our journalismAbout the AuthorRitayan BasuRitayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18. com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for over a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket conten. . . Read MoreLocation :London, United Kingdom (UK)First Published:June 20, 2026, 11:13 ISTNewscricketIndia Stars Smriti Mandhana And Shafali Verma Warned: 'South Africa Has The Best Bowling Attack'Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to ourTerms of UseandPrivacy Policy. Loading comments. . . Read More