Smriti Mandhana Biography

Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has committed to playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL as well as the Indian women’s national squad. She made a significant development in her cricket career in 2013, being the first Indian woman to score 200 runs in a one-day match.

In 2014, Mandhana made her Test debut against England and contributed to India’s victory. She scored her first ever international century in the second ODI of India’s 2016 tour of Australia. Despite hitting 102 runs off 109 balls, she was defeated. Mandhana became the third Indian player to reach the 1,000 run mark in WT20I games during the Women’s World Twenty20 competition that was played in the West Indies. Moreover, she received awards from the BCCI for Leading Women Cricketer of the Year and ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

At the first Women’s Premier League auction in February 2023, Smriti Mandhana was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 3.40 crore, making her one of India’s highest-paid female athletes. She was additionally selected as one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year for her accomplishments throughout the 2020–21 season.

Due to her propensity for hitting boundaries, Smriti Mandhana has been compared to former Indian opener Virender Sehwag. She is well recognised for her aggressive batting style. She is renowned for her fielding abilities as well and has made several incredible catches so far in her career. Smriti Mandhana is a voracious reader who enjoys reading books on sports psychology off the field. She has also been active in a number of social causes, such as Project Nanhi Kali, which encourages young girls to practice good menstrual hygiene.

FULL NAME:	Smriti Shrinivas Mandhana
BORN:	18 July 1996
PLAYING ROLE:	Opening Batter
BATTING STYLE:	Left Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE:	Right Arm Offbreak

Table of Contents

Smriti Mandhana – CHILDHOOD

Smriti Mandhana, a Marwari woman, was born on July 18, 1996, in Bombay to Smita and Shrinivas Mandhana. Her father coached her until she was nine years old while competing at the district level in cricket in Maharashtra. When she was six years old, she began playing cricket, and at nine, she enrolled in a nearby cricket academy. Mandhana’s cricketing endeavours have garnered significant support from her family. Shravan Mandhana, her brother, is a cricket player who has competed for Maharashtra at the Under-23 level. Her mother has always urged her to achieve her aspirations and has been her strongest supporter.

Mandhana played cricket with boys during his youth. She routinely played with boys twice her age and attributes her development as a player to this experience. She was chosen for Maharashtra’s Under-15 squad at the age of nine. She joined the Under-19 team two years later.

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Smriti Mandhana – CRICKET CAREER

Smriti Mandhana started playing cricket at the age of six, which marked the beginning of her cricket career. Her father, Shrinivas Mandhana, trained her until she was nine years old while coaching district-level cricket in Maharashtra. She later enrolled at a nearby cricket academy, where she improved her game. Mandhana made her Indian team debut against Bangladesh in April 2013. She only managed to score 9 runs in that game, but she later made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach a double hundred in a one-day game.

Mandhana has had difficulties throughout his career. She sustained a knee injury in 2016 that kept her out of action for a while. Yet she made a better comeback and kept up her stellar performance. Since that time, Smriti Mandhana has developed into one of India’s top female cricketers. She has played for a number of teams, including the Maharashtra Women, India B Women, Indian Board Presidents Women XI, Trailblazers, Western Storm, and Brisbane Heat Women. She was acquired by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in February 2023 for INR 3.40 crore.

Smriti Mandhana – JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

Smriti Mandhana has had a remarkable road to success. She was raised in a cricket-playing household, and both her brother and father were district players for Sangli. She also was motivated to take up the sport after watching her brother compete for Maharashtra in the Under-16 championship. Mandhana persisted in pursuing her goal, and when she was nine years old, she was selected for Maharashtra’s Under-15 squad. She joined the Maharashtra Under-19 squad at the age of 11.

Many people became familiar with the name “Smriti Mandhana” after she hit 224* off 150 balls in 2013 against Gujarat in the West Zone Under-19 tournament, becoming the first female player to do so in one-day cricket. In the T20I, ODI, and Test formats against Bangladesh in 2013 and England in 2014, respectively, Smriti Mandhana made her international debut for India.

Later that year, Mandhana made history by becoming the first Indian woman to make a double hundred in a one-day match. She has now developed into one of India’s top female cricketers. Throughout the early days of her work, her family has been her steady source of support. Her mother oversaw her meals in accordance with her nutritional needs, while her father used to schedule her tournaments around her academic obligations.

Smriti Mandhana’s HIGHEST SCORE AND AWARDS

Smriti Mandhana’s highest score is 135 and came against South Africa in an ODI in 2018. In a Women’s Big Bash League match in 2021, she also tied the record with 114 runs off 64 balls. Smriti Mandhana has received numerous honours over the course of her career. She received the coveted Arjuna Award from the Indian government in June 2018. Also, she received the International Cricket Council’s Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award in December 2018 for being the best female cricketer (ICC). She received the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in January 2022. She has also received nominations for a number of other honours, including ICC Women’s T20 Player of the Year and ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Also, throughout her career, Mandhana has broken a number of records. In a one-day match in 2013, she became the first woman to ever represent India to hit a double hundred. She is the second Indian woman, and the first to date, to score a century in T20Is. She also owns a number of domestic cricket records.

Smriti Mandhana – BEST INNINGS

Over her career, Smriti Mandhana has had a number of strong performances. She hit an 83-ball 55 against Australia in the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which included nine boundaries and three sixes. She also won Player of the Match honours at the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup after scoring an unbroken 106 off 108 balls against West Indies. Moreover, during the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup against Ireland, she scored a career-high 87 off 56 balls. After play was suspended due to rain after 8.2 overs with Ireland being five runs short of their par score, this knock helped India win the match under the D/L method.

Conclusion

One of India’s top female cricketers, Smriti Mandhana continues to serve as an example for young girls all throughout the country. Smriti Mandhana is still one of India’s most promising cricketers as of February 27th, 2023, and she has a promising future. Her transformation as an important India batsman from accompanying her brother to practice to becoming exceptional. She has already hit a number of career high points, but she still aspires to more. Mandhana, despite being so young, shown excellent cricketing potential. She put a lot of effort into getting better at both her game and herself. She is currently one of India’s most successful cricket players.