Smriti Mandhana: The Poised Pioneer of Indian Women’s Cricket
In the world of women’s cricket, few names shine brighter than Mandhana’s. Her elegant strokeplay and ice-cold resolve have propelled her to be a beacon of excellence, resilience, and motivation for a new generation of Indian women.
At 28, Smriti has accomplished a legacy parallel to the legends of the game. Along with Australia’s Ellyse Perry, Smriti is one of only two cricketers to be awarded the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year twice – cementing her pedigree in the world game. Nevertheless, behind those accolades lies a story rooted in humble beginnings, quiet determination, and a childhood dream fostered by sibling rivalry.
A Journey that Originated in the Backyard
The fun-loving but competitive nature of their family dynamic allowed Smriti to find her love of cricket first, following her elder brother Shravan’s urges. Smriti was born July 18th, 1996 in Mumbai. With her family, they were settled in the small town of Sangli, nestled in the Maharashtra state of India. They came from a sporting family with their father a district-level cricketer – so it was no surprise that cricket always occupied the family space. While Shravan was always the competitive athlete and later played U-19 cricket, Smriti was the one to fulfill their backyard dream to grace the international stage, thanks to their father.
Though naturally right-handed, Smriti and Shravan both learned to bat left-handed — a quirk inspired by their father’s admiration for left-handed legends. By age nine, Smriti had earned her place in Maharashtra’s U-15 team. By 11, she was facing seniors in the U-19 circuit. Her rise was swift, but not without sacrifice. Encouraged by her mother to pursue commerce instead of science, Smriti balanced education with cricket, eventually earning a degree while staying laser-focused on her career.
From Debut to Stardom
Smriti’s international debut came in 2013 at just 16. In a T20 against Bangladesh, she top-scored for India, announcing herself as a star in the making. Just days later, she made her ODI debut. What’s more remarkable? She used a bat gifted and signed by Rahul Dravid — originally meant to be a showpiece, but later wielded as her secret weapon.
In a U-19 match shortly after, Mandhana hammered an unbeaten 224 against Gujarat — making her the first Indian woman to score a double century in a 50-over game.
The milestones continued to build. In 2016, she scored her first International century against Australia. A year later, she played a key role in India’s runner-up position at the 2017 Women’s World Cup. She played the whole tournament nursing an ACL injury, and when she needed to dig deep, she displayed an even greater resolve than her years would suggest.
Setting Records, Breaking New Ground
Be it an 18-ball fifty in T20 cricket (joint-fastest ever), a 70-ball ODI century (the fastest by an Indian woman), or the way she leads while breaking through barriers, Smriti Mandhana continues to change the narrative. She was India’s youngest captain in T20I cricket of either gender at just-22 years of age. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have their first Women’s Premier League (WPL) championship in 2024 because of her leadership.
Her impact is also not just the numbers. Mandhana was the highest-priced player in the initial WPL auction, when she was acquired by RCB for ₹3.4 Crore — a powerful signal of changing fortunes for Indian women’s sports.
Golden Girl of Global Cricket
From winning silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to leading India to Asian Games gold in 2023, Mandhana’s career is filled with shining moments on the world stage. Her match-winning 87 against Ireland in the 2023 World Cup, her explosive T20I century against England in 2025, and her dominance across formats speak volumes of her evolving mastery.
By mid-2025, she had reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC women’s ODI batting rankings and became the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three formats — an all-time great in the making.
Stats That Inspire
- First Indian woman with centuries in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is
- Fastest ODI century by an Indian woman (70 balls)
- 4 ODI centuries in a single calendar year — most by any woman ever
- Over 4,000 ODI runs and 3,000+ T20I runs
- Most 50+ scores in T20Is in a calendar year
- Only second Indian (after Harmanpreet Kaur) to cross 3,000 T20I runs
- Vice-captain of silver & gold medal-winning Indian teams (CWG 2022, Asian Games 2023)
- Led RCB to WPL 2024 triumph
More Than Just a Cricketer
Smriti Mandhana’s story isn’t just about boundaries and centuries — it’s about smashing ceilings. Her humility, grace under pressure, and dedication to her craft make her a role model not only for aspiring cricketers but for every Indian woman chasing a dream.
Whether she’s donning the blue of India or the red of RCB, Smriti plays with quiet fire and unwavering focus — a blend that has made her the heart of India’s women’s cricket team.
At Women India, we salute this champion — not just for what she’s achieved but for the doors she continues to open for the next generation.
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