NICK FRIEND AT HOVE: The opening batter also confirmed that she would be withdrawing from this winter's Women's Big Bash
India are hoping to rectify the "disappointment" of their premature World Cup exit by winning in England to give Jhulan Goswami the perfect send-off into international retirement, according to Smriti Mandhana.
The opening batter was speaking after her 91 guided the tourists to a comprehensive win over England at Hove on Sunday.
Earlier, Goswami – who made her ODI debut two decades ago but was playing in the format for the first time without Mithali Raj, who retired from international cricket earlier this year – had led India's bowling attack with ageless class. Having not played for India since March, she conceded just 20 runs in her 10 overs, dismissing Tammy Beaumont for the eighth time in the process.
It is anticipated that the 39-year-old will join Raj in retiring from international cricket following the series finale at Lord's. No one in history has taken more ODI wickets than Goswami.
India, who made clear throughout the World Cup that winning it for Raj and Goswami was the goal, were knocked out of this year's tournament at the group stage, losing a win-or-bust clash with South Africa, while Goswami missed out with a side strain.
"I was very disappointed with myself when we couldn't do something for her in the World Cup," admitted Mandhana.
"The most bad I've felt was when I watched her face after the match we lost against South Africa. I was really low that we couldn't do that special thing for her before she left.
"Now, we have one more chance – not a World Cup, but a series win in England would be something which we'll all try to give to her as much as we can. She has been an amazing, amazing person and player for us."
Mandhana has been in fine form for India (Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
India will wrap up a series win with a victory either at Canterbury on Wednesday or Lord's on Saturday, with the teams meeting at the Home of Cricket for the first time since the World Cup final of 2017.
In Mandhana, who confirmed that she is "pulling out of the Big Bash", India have the form player of the tour: her match-winning knock at Hove followed a similarly classy innings at Derby in the preceding T20I series.
Despite falling narrowly short of a century – she has been dismissed within 14 runs of three figures on three occasions against England in ODIs – the 26-year-old insisted she could only be satisfied with her game.
"I hit a stupid shot and I got out," she said. "I didn't get out being nervous. I wasn't double-minded. A lot of the time it happens that when I'm in the 70s or 80s, I want to hit a shot but I stop myself. Today, at least whenever I felt like hitting, I went out and hit. I'm really happy that I could contribute to the team."
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