Smriti Mandhana is the left-handed opening batter for the Indian women’s team in all three formats of the game.
She has the fastest half-century in just 24 balls for the Indian women’s team in international cricket. She also became the youngest to captain India in T20 internationals when she filled the skipper’s role for an injured Harmanpreet Kaur vs England in 2019.
Career Commences
Mandhana got fascinated with the game by watching her brother and father play district-level cricket for Sangli. Her entire family became the strength behind her decision to adopt cricket as her ambition early in childhood.
She got selected in Maharashtra’s Under-16 squad at the young age of 9 and soon advanced to the Under-19 when she was just 11 years old. To this day, her family actively aids her in making cricket preparations.
Domestic Delight
Her domestic career overflows with unique, unforgettable moments. In October 2013, she became the first-ever Indian woman to cross the 200 run mark in a One Day match. While representing Maharashtra, she scored 224 off 150 balls against Gujarat in the West Zone Under-19 tournament.
Smriti scored the most runs for India Blue in the Women’s Challenger Trophy in 2016. She made 192 runs, including a significant 62* against India Red in the finals to help her team lift the trophy.
International Innings
Her journey at the international platform began when she debuted for India in the ODIs and T20is against Bangladesh in 2013.
She made her debut in whites against England in August 2014 and shared a match-winning stand of 76 runs with Thirus Kamini while chasing 182 in the 2nd innings.
Her maiden-international ton came in a losing cause when she scored a brave 102 off 109 against the mighty Aussies at Hobart in the 2nd ODI of India’s tour to Australia in 2016.
She missed five months of cricketing action due to an injury sustained at WBBL 2016. Mandhana had to skip World Cup Qualifiers but came back with a bang when she scored 90 against England in Women’s Cricket World Cup, 2017.
Smriti scored her 2nd ODI hundred in the next match to help India secure a victory against West Indies. She helped India reach the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup finals.
She has aggregated five hundred in international cricket, including one against Australia in the tests.
League Stint
Smriti joined Brisbane Heat in WBBL in 2017 but did not make any significant impact and suffered a ligament injury. She could manage a paltry 89 runs in 12 innings during her stay at the tournament.
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Mandhana became the first Indian woman to participate in Kia Super League when she signed up with Western Storm in 2018. She became the woman of the tournament for her blazing 421 in 10 innings.
She scored her first-ever hundred in the T20 tournament when she struck 114 off 64 balls against Melbourne Renegades at WBBL in 2018.
Awards & Accolades
1. Recognised as ‘Best Women’s International Cricketer’ in 2018 by BCCI.
2. ICC award for the ‘Female Player of the Year’ in 2018 & 2022.
3. ‘International Woman Cricketer of the Year’ at CEAT International Cricket Awards 2019.
4. Facilitated with the prestigious ‘Arjuna Award’ by the Govt. of India in 2019.
