Mithali Raj praises Mandhana but flags India's unsettled bowling as major concern

Hindustan Times reports that Mithali Raj, India's most celebrated women's batter and former captain, has offered a mixed assessment of the current Indian women's team. While she expressed genuine admiration for Smriti Mandhana's batting form — which has been among the most consistent in women's cricket globally — Raj issued a clear warning about the team's bowling unit, saying 'a lot of thinking is needed' over unsettled bowling roles.

Raj's concern reflects a widely observed issue: India's women's bowling attack has lacked both depth and role clarity, with no single bowler consistently stepping up to lead the attack alongside pace spearheads. The reliance on Mandhana and others with the bat to cover for bowling shortcomings has been a recurring pattern.

For fans of Indian women's cricket, Raj's remarks are significant because they come from the sport's most authoritative voice in India. With the women's team set to compete in marquee events, the bowling combination will need to be settled well in advance. Mandhana's batting form is an asset, but without a reliable bowling lineup, India's tournament ambitions remain vulnerable — a gap that team management must urgently address.