Smriti Mandhana’s journey from accompanying her brother at cricket practice to becoming one of the pillars of Indian women’s cricket is a story of passion, perseverance and prodigious talent. Often likened to the iconic Mithali Raj, Mandhana has carved her niche as one of the world’s premier batters, breaking records and barriers with equal aplomb.
Born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai, Smriti’s family relocated to Sangli, Maharashtra, where her cricketing dreams took shape. Her father, Shrinivas, a former district-level cricketer, and her brother Shravan, a former Maharashtra U-19 player, were instrumental in nurturing her love for the game. Inspired by Shravan’s achievements, Smriti picked up the bat, albeit left-handed, under the encouragement of her father, who admired left-handed batters.
Rise in ranks and stellar International debut
By the age of nine, Mandhana was playing for Maharashtra’s U-15 team, and at 11, she was fast-tracked into the U-19 side. Her rapid rise through the ranks culminated in a stellar debut year in 2013. At just 16, she made her T20I debut against Bangladesh, top-scoring with 39. Days later, she made her ODI debut and continued her ascent in the international arena.
A pivotal moment came when Smriti, wielding a bat signed by cricketing legend Rahul Dravid, smashed an unbeaten 224 in a U-19 one-day competition, becoming the first Indian woman to score a double century in 50-over cricket.
Her exploits on the field soon earned her a Test debut in 2014, where she played a crucial role in India’s victory over England in Wormsley. The same year, she scored her maiden international century in an ODI against Australia, cementing her status as a top-tier batter.
Making an impact
Mandhana’s career has been punctuated by milestones that reflect her impact on the game. In 2017, she was instrumental in India’s run to the ICC Women’s World Cup final. Despite battling an ACL injury, she delivered key performances, including an unbeaten century against the West Indies. Her exploits earned her a spot in the ICC Women’s Team of the Year.
The accolades kept coming. In 2018, she was crowned the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and ODI Player of the Year. She became the world’s No. 1 ODI batter in 2019 and India’s youngest T20I captain, achieving the feat at just 22. Her explosive batting saw her equal Sophie Devine’s record for the fastest T20 50 in women’s cricket and break records for the fastest T20I 50 by an Indian woman.
Mandhana’s leadership shone in franchise cricket too. She led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in 2024, showcasing her tactical acumen alongside her batting prowess.
Internationally, Mandhana’s consistency has been remarkable. She is among the select few Indian women to cross 3,000 runs in both ODIs and T20Is. Her achievements extend beyond numbers. As a role model for millions, she has inspired a new generation of cricketers.
With silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2023 Asian Games, Mandhana’s journey is a testament to her determination and talent. Still in her late 20s, her cricketing prime promises more records, victories and accolades.