Biography of Smriti Mandhana: The Face of Indian Women’s Cricket

Indian Cricket Sensation Smriti Mandhana

The story of Smriti Mandhana, the Indian cricketing sensation, is one of determination, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As an opening batswoman for the Indian women’s national cricket team, Mandhana has carved out a remarkable career, earning the admiration of fans worldwide.

Biography Of Smriti Mandhana

Hailing from Mumbai, Mandhana’s journey to the top has been paved with unwavering commitment and a natural talent that has brought her to the forefront of women’s cricket.

Early Life and Inspiration to Play Cricket

Smriti Mandhana was born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Her father and brother’s involvement in cricket inspired her journey, and she soon began shadowing her brother’s footsteps on the pitch.

Journey to Domestic Stardom

Record-Breaking Performances and Rise Through the Ranks

Mandhana’s journey began with a record-breaking double-century at age 17 in the West Zone Under-19 Tournament, where she scored an unbeaten 224 off 150 balls against Gujarat. This remarkable feat propelled her to become one of the country’s most promising young talents.

Dominating the 2016 Women’s Challenger Trophy

Mandhana continued her stellar performances in the 2016 Women’s Challenger Trophy, scoring three half-centuries and emerging as the tournament’s top scorer.

Tournament Runs Scored Highest Score
West Zone Under-19 Tournament (2013) 224* 224*
Women’s Challenger Trophy (2016) 192 62*

Indian Cricketer Smriti Mandhana: International Debut

Smriti Mandhana’s journey to the international stage began at 16, with her debut for India on April 5, 2013, in a T20 match against Bangladesh, where she scored 39 runs. Her ODI debut followed five days later, setting the stage for a rapid rise in international cricket.

Test Debut Against England

In August 2014, Mandhana made her Test debut, scoring a commendable 51 runs in the second innings. These early performances laid the foundation for her illustrious career.

  1. International T20I debut: April 5, 2013 (against Bangladesh)
  2. ODI debut: April 10, 2013 (against Bangladesh)
  3. Test debut: August 13, 2014 (against England)
Format Matches Runs Average Centuries Half-Centuries
Tests 12 629 57.18 3 3
ODIs 87 3590 44.32 7 27
T20Is 139 3568 28.54 0 27

Stellar Performances in Major Tournaments

Mandhana has consistently delivered stellar performances, particularly in the 2017 World Cup, where she scored 232 runs, establishing herself as a formidable run-scorer.

Smashing Records and Winning Accolades

Smriti Mandhana, the talented Indian cricketer, has etched her name in the record books with remarkable performances. In February 2019, she scored the fastest fifty for India in Women’s T20Is, reaching the landmark in just 24 balls against New Zealand.

ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year

Mandhana’s remarkable achievements in 2018 earned her the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year awards, marking her as one of the sport’s brightest stars.

Mandhana’s consistency, determination, and sheer talent have made her a dominant force on the international stage, cementing her legacy in cricket history.

T20 Leagues and Overseas Opportunities

Smriti Mandhana has carved a niche for herself as a trailblazer in the world of women’s cricket. Her international success has paved the way for her to explore opportunities in various T20 leagues around the globe, showcasing her talent and versatility on the world stage.

Trailblazer in Women’s Big Bash League

In September 2016, Mandhana became one of the first two Indians to be signed up for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), joining the Brisbane Heat roster for a one-year deal. She has represented teams like Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder over the years.

First Indian in Kia Super League

In June 2018, Mandhana became the first Indian to play in the Kia Super League, joining Western Storm. She has also represented Southern Brave in The Hundred, a new cricket format that gained worldwide attention.

League Teams Represented Runs Scored Batting Average
WBBL Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder 784 24.50
Kia Super League Western Storm 421 174.68
The Hundred Southern Brave N/A N/A

Captaincy and Leadership Roles

Mandhana’s rise in Indian cricket extends beyond her batting prowess. At 22, she became the youngest T20I captain for India, leading the team in Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence. This showcased her leadership abilities and her commitment to the game.

Youngest T20I Captain for India

In February 2019, Mandhana captained India against England, becoming the youngest T20I captain for India. Her maturity and the trust placed in her by team management emphasized her potential as a leader.

Leading Royal Challengers Bangalore to WPL Glory

In 2023, Mandhana was purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the WPL auction for ₹3.4 crores, the highest bid in the auction. Entrusted with the captaincy, she led RCB to a maiden WPL title in 2024.

Achievements Statistics
Youngest T20I Captain for India Took over captaincy at 22 years and 229 days
WPL Title with RCB Finished as 2nd highest run-scorer
Top Run-Scorer in Home Series Averaged ~50 vs. England and Australia
RCB’s Turnaround in WPL Won the title after finishing 4th in the first season

Personal Life and Off-Field Interests

Outside of cricket, Smriti Mandhana has been dating music composer-filmmaker Palash Muchhal since 2019. Mandhana enjoys playing mobile games, traveling, and listening to music, balancing her personal passions with her cricketing career.

A Glittering Career with More Milestones Ahead

Mandhana is only the third Indian woman to cross the 3,000-run mark in both ODIs and T20Is, following Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj. She has been vice-captain in India’s recent major tournament successes, including the 2022 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, leading to gold and silver medals.

FAQ’s

Who is Smriti Mandhana?

Smriti Mandhana is an Indian cricketer who plays for the Indian women’s national team. She has been the recipient of the best international cricketer award many times over the years. Mandhana plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Women’s Premier League and represents the Maharashtra team in domestic cricket.

What are Smriti Mandhana’s key achievements?

Smriti Mandhana has won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award twice, making her only the second cricketer after Australia’s Ellyse Perry to achieve this feat. She has also been the world No. 1 batter in ICC women’s ODI rankings.

Where is Smriti Mandhana from and how did she get into cricket?

Smriti Mandhana was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and her family later moved to Sangli when she was two years old. Her father played cricket at the district level, and her brother, Shravan, also represented the Maharashtra state Under-16 team, which inspired Mandhana to take up the sport.

What were Smriti Mandhana’s early cricket achievements?

Mandhana’s first breakthrough came in 2013 when she became the first Indian woman to score a double-hundred in a one-day game, scoring an unbeaten 224 off 150 balls for Maharashtra. In the 2016 Women’s Challenger Trophy, Mandhana emerged as the tournament’s top-scorer with 192 runs.

When did Smriti Mandhana make her international debut?

Smriti Mandhana made her international debut for India in a T20 match against Bangladesh women in 2013 at the age of 16. She then made her One Day International (ODI) debut against Bangladesh in 2013 and her Test debut against England in 2014.

What were some of Smriti Mandhana’s standout performances in major tournaments?

In the 2017 World Cup, Mandhana began the tournament with a 90 against England and followed it up with her second hundred in an ODI against West Indies (106*). She was India’s third-highest scorer in the tournament. In 2018, she was the highest run-getter in women’s ODIs and a star performer in India’s run to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 tournament.

What records and accolades has Smriti Mandhana achieved?

Mandhana has scored the fastest fifty for India in Women’s T20Is, off just 24 balls against New Zealand. She has also won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and the ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year awards in 2018.

Has Smriti Mandhana played in any overseas T20 leagues?

Yes, Mandhana has played in several overseas T20 leagues, including the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and the Kia Super League. She was one of the first two Indians to be signed up for the WBBL and the first Indian to play in the Kia Super League.

What leadership roles has Smriti Mandhana held?

Mandhana became the youngest T20I captain for India when she led the women’s team against England in 2019 at the age of 22. She has also been the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the Women’s Premier League, leading them to the title in 2024.

What are Smriti Mandhana’s interests outside of cricket?

Outside of cricket, Mandhana enjoys playing mobile games, traveling, and listening to music. She has been dating music composer-filmmaker Palash Muchhal since 2019.

What are Smriti Mandhana’s future goals and milestones?

Mandhana has already crossed 3,000 runs in both ODIs and T20Is, becoming only the third Indian woman to achieve this feat. She will be looking to lead India to more success, including in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and continue to be a dominant force in women’s cricket.

This article was authored with insights from Patrick Justin McAfee, a sports analyst with extensive experience in cricket analysis, and reviewed by Pat McAfee, renowned sports writer at thebetindia.com. For more expert cricket insights, visit his Wikipedia page.