Smriti Mandhana's Century in Vain as Australia Clinch ODI Series Despite India Star's Heroics

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana refused to describe her record ODI hundred against Australia as one of her best after the hosts lost the series-deciding match by 43 runs, handing Australia a 2-1 series victory. Despite the loss, Mandhana stressed that the series was more about testing combinations and identifying weaknesses ahead of the upcoming World Cup than the result itself.

India had the chance to make history with their first bilateral series win over Australia after levelling the three-match contest, but the decider dashed those hopes. "This series for us was about getting a lot of right combinations and things. Australia is a great opposition to test ourselves in terms of where we are lacking," Mandhana said at the post-match conference.

"So I wouldn't say that we will think of this series as a confidence booster or something which didn't really work, that the confidence will go low. But it was a good series in terms of understanding our strengths and understanding where we are lacking."

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Fielding, however, remained a glaring concern. After displaying sharp work in England earlier this year, India were sloppy against Australia, dropping over 12 catches across three games. Mandhana admitted the inconsistency.

"I mean for sure there is a lot of difference in the fielding. Fielding part is one thing which I mean as a team we are on a rise but we also feel that some days there are days where we look like a different fielding side than the others.

"We need to find the consistency in the team in terms of fielding as a unit together and not individual brilliance, so that's one thing which we thought that we have to address before the World Cup," she added.

Mandhana herself enjoyed a prolific series, finishing as the top scorer with two centuries and a fifty. She shouldered much of India's batting responsibility but dismissed the notion of over-reliance on her.

"Not really," she said when asked if she felt the pressure of carrying the batting. Everyone in this squad is a match-winner, not just the XI but all 15. At any point, anyone can step up. If you look at the last 12 months, we've posted 300-plus totals even when I got out early. That shows there is no dependence on one player. Pratika, Harleen, Jemimah, Harman - everyone has scored hundreds in the last year."

On Saturday, Mandhana scored a dazzling 125 off 63 balls, laced with 17 fours and five sixes, to keep India in the hunt for a record 413-run chase.

"I don't know if it's (my) best knock because when you chase 413 you don't have any other gear to play. In terms of hitting sixes maybe yes.

"But I wouldn't rate it best. Whenever you score a hundred and team wins I mean that becomes a memorable knock."

Mandhana refused to reveal the combination India will go with at the World Cup but conceded that the hosts will be flexible and make calls depending on the conditions.

"We wouldn't really want to reveal what the combination is going to be because the World Cup is still 8-10 days away. But I wouldn't say that we will have one particular combination, it would also depend a lot on the wicket."