In the world of cricket, there are few names that shine as brightly as Smriti Mandhana in women's cricket. For a young girl from Sangli, Maharashtra to an international superstar in cricket, the stories of natural talent, hard work, and ambition are everywhere.
What Mandhana offers the cricket world is not just another elegant left-handed batters, but one who possesses determination and passion for the sport while also serving as a role model for young girls, inspiring them all over the globe.
The Journey of Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana was born on July 18, 1996. She grew up in a family who loved cricket - her father and brother also played. As a result, her interest in cricket developed at a young age, where she went through the cricket youth and state system.
Mandhana represented Maharashtra's Under-15 at only nine years old and Maharashtra's Under-19 team at eleven. At just seventeen, she scored a double century in a one-day game for Maharashtra, and her talent was starting to shine through her play for the world to notice.
It was that early talent that showed the world, that Smriti Mandhana is a special kind of player.
Mandhana made her international debut for India as a One-Day International (ODI) player against Bangladesh in the month of April in 2013. Her aggressive and powerful batting style was quickly showcased, and she rose to be a key player for India internationally.
She has built a reputation for her graceful stroke play and cover drives, which are beautiful to behold. Her combination of elegance and power with the bat makes her a formidable opponent for any bowler to face. She has established herself as a force to be reckoned with since 2013!
Batting Flair: A Cocky Combination of Grace and Power
Smriti Mandhana is known for her batting flair. This flair is a combination of classic technique and aggressive modernity, and she has the unique ability to dominate bowlers and make it look easy.
Mandhana has numerous memories from her international career, but there are many key innings! She debuted Test cricket in 2014 and scored a half-century, which contributed to India's first-ever win against England in tests! In 2016, she scored her first international century against Australia.
The 2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup was a representative moment in her career, and despite recovering from a knee injury, Mandhana scored 90 in the opening match and then scored a century against the West Indies in the second match.
Her runs helped India reach the finals of the tournament. It was also at this World Cup that she became the first Indian woman to score a century in all three formats of the game. Mandhana has also set the T20I record for the fastest fifty made by an Indian woman in 2019 from just 24 balls against New Zealand.
Her performances across multiple leagues—though especially in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), and The Hundred—have also been superb . She was instrumental in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) winning their first Women's Premier League (WPL) title in 2024, and proved equally impactful as a senior captain alongside her batting . With her intelligent and consistent approach, she is an easy top-rated player .
Fans tend to search for trustworthy platforms to follow their favorite players and teams. For fans searching for more in-depth coverage and the fundamentals of the game, Kheloexch offers excellent assets. Kheloexch360 also provides a close experience and allows fans to be a lot deeper with cricket statistics and news.
More Than Just Talent: There is a Fighting Spirit
As Mandhana showed us, she has a fighting spirit beyond batting. She has been faced with, and overcome challenges, including a significant knee injury, in 2017, that could have derailed her budding career .
Regardless, her ability to return strong and compete at the highest level illustrates her mental resolve, and commitment . This fighting spirit makes her a natural leader, and is something every athlete can appreciate .
Smrithi Mandanna inspires from a distance
For young girls of all ages in India, and across the world, Smriti Mandhana's journey can prove attainable . She exemplifies discipline, and an unyielding desire to succeed . Her story fuels girls to take up sport, and rid old thinking by chasing their wildest dreams .
She has played a huge part in enhancing the visibility of women's cricket and having them build. She has garnered numerous awards including recognized as, ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year on two occasions (2018 2021).
