'It came from within': Smriti Mandhana on mid-game hug with Harmanpreet Kaur

Smriti Mandhana said her mid-game hug with Harmanpreet Kaur during the ODI vs New Zealand was at her joy of the Indian vice-captain's return to form ahead of the World Cup.

"I was batting with Harmanpreet after so many days and got to see such a shot after so long, so I got excited and hugged her," Mandhana said in a video posted by the BCCI.

Since February 2018, Harmanpreet had crossed fifty in ODIs only once before her knock of 63 in the 5th ODI vs New Zealand last Thursday, which she followed with a century in the warm-up match against South Africa.

In T20Is too, the last time she crossed fifty was four years ago.

"It was really important for the whole team, it was good to see her come back and play the kind of shots she was playing. I was enjoying watching her hit those sixes from the other end. I didn't think, it came from within. When she hit that six I just fell like hugging her. Going into the World Cup, it's very important for the team," Mandhana said about the moment at the post-match press conference.

"I was talking about non-cricket things with her during our partnership. Because it is obvious that when someone is not timing the ball well, they will not like to be told about it all the time," she added.

Team India are set to play a last warm-up match on Tuesday before they begin their World Cup campaign against Pakistan on Sunday.