We are aiming for Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022: Smriti Mandhana

The Indian Women's Cricket Team is all set to make their Commonwealth Games debut on Friday, 29th July against Australia. The opener and Vice-captain of the women's cricket team Smriti Mandhana is much more confident about her team, said that they are aiming for the gold medal at Commonwealth Games 2022, not just a podium finish.

The captain of the India Women's Cricket Team, Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the team in the CWG campaign. The women's team will be competing at the Commonwealth Games 2022 for the first time in history. Their campaign will start on 29th July against Australia in Birmingham. Though the men's cricket team had performed at the 1998 Kuala Lampur Commonwealth Games, this is the first time for the women to perform at this stage. Therefore, the excitement is very high for the ladies.

Also read: Commonwealth Games 2022: Full schedule and fixture of Women's Cricket matches

Women in Blue will play their first match against Australia in the opener. "The mood is very good in the camp and we are very excited to compete at the CWG. We definitely aiming for gold and now just a podium finish. We have watched the Olympics and CWG on TV and I myself got goosebumps when the national anthem was played with Neeraj Chopra getting the gold medal in Tokyo. We want to replicate that feeling although this is not the Olympics," Mandana said during the team's departure for Birmingham on Friday.

Smriti Mandana admitted that the team doesn't have any experience of competing at the CWG. However, she shared her feelings that comes alive when the flag is raised and the national anthem is played at the event will drive them to go for glory. "As I said, none of us have the experience of playing in the CWG before. We would love to imagine ourselves getting on the top podium and getting gold medals after winning the final. We are really excited and looking to enjoy ourselves at the CWG,"

Also read:Commonwealth Games 2022: Top 7 medal contenders from India

The team will be part of the 322-member Indian contingent. In the 322-member squad, 215 are athletes, with 108 men and 107 women part of the squad.

Women's Cricket Team squad for Commonwealth Games 2022:

1. Harmanpreet Kaur (C)
2. Smriti Mandhana (VC)
3. Shafali Verma
4.  S. Meghana
5. Taniyaa Sapna Bhatia (WK)
6. Yastika Bhatia (WK)
7. Deepti Sharma
8. Rajeshwari Gayakwad
9. Pooja Vastrakar
10. Meghna Singh
11. Renuka Thakur
12. Jemimah Rodrigues
13. Radha Yadav
14. Harleen Deol
15. Sneh Rana