Perry said Mandhana, who was bought for Rs 3.4 crore at the inaugural WPL auction, just needs a chance to “find her feet” in the T20 league.
Perry, a six-time T20 World Cup winner, hoped the Indian would overcome this phase and come out with a “better version” of herself.
Mandhana, WPL’s most expensive buy, has had a tough time and scored 35, 23, 18 and 4 as RCB have suffered four straight defeats in the tournament so far.
“Awareness Smriti and how proud and responsible she is of her own game, there’s probably no more pressure on her than she puts on herself.” Pear said after receiving a 10-wicket hammering by UP Warriorz on Friday.
The Indian team vice-captain leads a star-studded RCB team with Perry, Sophie Devine and Heather Knight playing under her.
“It’s a mammoth task to be in a whole new competition and playing with a group of players she’s never played with before and trying to get everything to gel in the days since she’s joined the group,” the 32-year-old said.
“I think she’s a great captain too. She just needs a chance to find her feet in the tournament and no doubt she will. But overall it just means we’re going to see a version even better from Smriti after that.
“There’s so much she’s learned from this competition already, both as a captain and as a hitter, to make it even better in the future. She’s just a young girl. “
Smriti, on the other hand, took the blame for his team’s poor performance.
“In the last four games this has happened. We start well and then lose a bunch of wickets. I also take the blame,” Smriti said.
“You need the bowlers to have points on the board to defend. Overs 7-15, we talked about getting 7-8 per over. We’re trying to get a balanced team. Let’s see how it goes.”
On Monday, the low-level RCB will face Delhi Capitals at DY Patil Stadium.
(With PTI entries)
