Name Hindi: स्मृति मंधाना / Gender Woman
Smriti Mandhana: A Rising Star of Indian Women’s Cricket
Smriti Mandhana is one of the most recognized names in women’s cricket globally. Born on July 18, 1996, she hails from Mumbai, India and made her debut for the country while still a teenager. Known for her aggressive batting style and awe-inspiring performances, this left-handed opener has carved out a space for herself quite rapidly and now leads at international platforms with incredible records.
Early Life and Career Beginning
- Smriti was born to Smita and Shrinivas Mandhana. Her father was a chemical distributor and an avid fan of sports. He always encouraged Smriti towards pursuing sports as a career.
- She gained early training in cricket from Anant Tambwekar and developed an interest in the sport watching her elder brother Shravan play the game.
- Mandhana shot to prominence when at only 9 years old, she scored an unbeaten century in Pune’s U-19 tournament.
- In 2013, she became part of Maharashtra’s U-19 team and played impressive cricket proving that she had immense potential at such tender age.
Rise to International Stardom
From her humble beginnings in local cricket, Mandhana soon rose to become one of the brightest stars in the field on a global level. Here are some highlights:
- At just 16 years of age, Smriti made her debut for India against Bangladesh on 5th April 2013 where she scored a half-century along with four boundaries.
- In the 2014 Women’s T20 Asia Cup, she was India’s leading run-scorer with 192 runs over four matches.
- Mandhana played a crucial role in ensuring India reached the final of the World Cup in England in 2017 by scoring an impressive 90 and 106 runs in two matches respectively.
- She became only the second Indian woman to receive a contract for the foreign Twenty20 franchise, signing up with Brisbane Heat for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Awards & Recognitions
Mandhana has been recognized with numerous awards acknowledging her contributions to cricket. Here are some notable ones.
- In December 2018, International Cricket Council awarded Mandhana with Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy for being the best female cricketer of that year.
- Likewise, in March 2019, BCCI named Mandhana as Best Women’s International Cricketer.
- Furthermore, Wisden Almanack recognized her as ‘Leading Female Cricketer of the Year’ in April 2020.
Conclusion
Smriti Mandhana is an inspiring sportswoman who not only gives her best on-field but also off-field through charity services like child welfare initiatives. With so many records under her belt at such a young age, there’s no doubt that Smriti will continue to contribute significantly to women’s cricket and inspire generations of aspiring players.
