Few sights in women’s cricket are as reassuring Smriti Mandhana in full flow for India. The elegant left-hander was at his best in India’s historic Test triumph at Lord’s, scoring two half centuries to help script a memorable victory over England. In an interview with TOI, the 29-year-old spoke about India’s historic win at Lord’s, lessons from repeated T20 World Cup disappointments, the impact of the WPL, and why she feels ready to captain India if and when the opportunity comes. Extracts…What did it mean to be part of India’s first women’s Test at Lord’s and contribute significantly to the victory?It was amazing to be part of the first women’s test at Lord’s and more importantly to win it. Contributing to a historic win for India was special. As children, we all dreamed of playing Test cricket, so doing it at Lord’s made it even more memorable.Yastika Bhatia he credited you with helping his recovery after ACL surgery. What did you tell him?Any knee injury is very difficult for a player. In Yastika’s case, it happened before a World Cup at home, which made it even tougher. I told him how my own ACL injury in 2017 helped me grow as a person and athlete. Some of my best cricket came after that match. I feel like she’s connecting with that and staying motivated through the rehab process.Why do you think India went out early in the T20 World Cup?It is important to introspect and learn from mistakes. Unfortunately, we have not learned enough from our past mistakes and we have continued to repeat them. Going forward, there needs to be a clear road map until the T20 World Cup 2028 on how we want to approach the format and what we need to do as a team.There has been speculation about a captaincy transition. Are you ready to lead India if you ask?Yes of course. I am ready.Four seasons into the WPL, India’s T20 results have not improved significantly. Has the league provided enough Indian talent?I think the WPL has produced a lot of new talent and many players have made it to the national team. However, I feel that they have not always been used to their best ability.You have led RCB to back-to-back WPL titles. What is your leadership philosophy?For me, creating a positive team culture is more important. Every player should feel comfortable expressing themselves and being who they are. When people feel valued and trusted, they tend to perform better.You always perform in the big tournaments. Do big events bring out the best in you?It has been a work in progress. In the last couple of years, I feel a lot more relaxed about my cricket, whether it’s a big tournament or a bilateral series. This calm helped me focus on doing my job for the team.As India’s top batsman, do you feel burdened by expectations?We have a lot of quality boats in this team. Whenever you take the bat for India, there is pressure to help your team win. But I like that pressure. After all, what is the fun of playing sports if there is no pressure?What role has ICC president Jay Shah played in the growth of women’s cricket?Jay sir has been instrumental in the progress that women’s cricket has made, not only in India but also in the world.