Who is Smriti Mandhana: A Rising Star in Woman Cricket

 Smriti Mandhana: A Rising Star in Cricket

Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana, born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai, is a talented cricketer currently aged 28. She is known for her elegant left-handed batting style and also bowls right-arm medium pace.

Smriti Madhana 

Cricket Journey

Smriti Mandhana’s journey in cricket began when she watched her brother play under-16 matches in Maharashtra. Inspired by him, she decided to give cricket a try. Without wasting time, she started practicing and quickly earned a spot in Maharashtra’s Under-15 team, followed by the Under-19 squad.

A special moment in her early career was receiving a practice bat from cricket legend Rahul Dravid. She used that bat to score an incredible 224 runs off just 150 balls in a one-day match, becoming the first Indian woman to hit a double century in one-day cricket.

Mandhana made her international debut in April 2013, playing a T20I against Bangladesh. Just five days later, she played her first ODI match. In her second ODI, she scored her first century, an impressive 102 runs against Australia in Hobart.

In the 2016/17 season, Mandhana took her talent to the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), playing for the Brisbane Heat. She later joined the Hobart Hurricanes for the 2018/19 season.

Her outstanding performances earned her major recognition in December 2018 when she was named the ODI Player of the Year and Best Female Cricketer of the Year.

Mandhana continued to prove her brilliance as a batter and a leader in the Indian team. In 2021, she returned to Australia to play for Sydney Thunder in the WBBL. After a short break from the league, she announced her comeback in 2024, joining the Adelaide Strikers.

Smriti Mandhana’s journey is a testament to hard work, determination, and love for cricket. She remains one of the best players in the world and a proud representative of Indian women’s cricket.