One of the top players in Indian women’s cricket and a global representative of the game is Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana has changed how women’s cricket is viewed in India thanks to her superb stroke play, bold demeanour, and capacity to dominate bowlers in all formats.
She has played match-winning innings in important events and has been the mainstay of the Indian batting order, scoring a lot in Tests, T20Is, and ODIs. In addition to carving out a niche for herself, Mandhana has encouraged millions of young girls to pursue the sport with her steadily increasing fan base, corporate endorsements, and performances.
Born on July 18, 1996, in Maharashtra, she played cricket from a young age and quickly came through the ranks. A left-handed opening batter, she is known for her fluent, elegant stroke play, especially her cover drives, and ability to develop partnerships under pressure. Smriti made her international debut in 2013 and soon became a core member of the Indian women’s cricket team.
Smriti Mandhana played important innings in key tournaments, such as the 2017 Women’s World Cup, where her innings contributed to India making it through to the final. In T20 cricket, she has pulled off aggressive starts for the team, making the team enter the game with hostility. Outside of longer format and white ball international competitions, she has played overseas in leagues, such as the Women’s Big Bash League and The Hundred.
Smriti’s calm persona, leadership abilities, and inspiring journey have made her a model for many young cricketers, particularly girls aspiring to become cricketers in the country.
Biography of Smriti Mandhana
- Real Name: Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana
- Full Name: Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana
- Nickname: Smriti
- Profession: Professional Cricketer (Batter)
- Famous for: Stylish left-handed batting and aggressive opening partnerships for India
- Best Performance: 106 vs West Indies (2017 World Cup) & 83 vs Australia (2020 T20 World Cup)
- Salary: Approx ₹50–70 lakh annually from the BCCI central contract
- Monthly Income: ₹10–15 lakh (including endorsements & match fees)
- Website URL: N/A
- Instagram Handle: @smriti_mandhana
Physical Status
- Height: 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm)
- Weight: 55 kg (approx.)
- Body Measurements: 34-28-34
- Eye Colour: Black
- Hair Colour: Black
Personal Life
- Date of Birth: July 18, 1996
- Place Of Birth: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Nationality: Indian
- Hometown: Sangli, Maharashtra
- School: Sangli-based private school
- College: Chintamanrao College of Commerce, Sangli
- Highest Education Qualification: Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Family Statistics
- Marital Status: Unmarried
- Husband: N/A
- Children: N/A
- Father – Shriniwas Mandhana (chemical distributor & former district-level cricketer),
- Mother – Smita Mandhana (homemaker)
- Siblings: Elder brother Shravan Mandhana (former district-level cricketer)
- Religion: Hindu
- Other Hobbies: Listening to music, traveling, and fitness training
Early Life of Smriti Mandhana:
Born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Smriti Mandhana came from a cricket-loving family. Her brother, Shravan Mandhana, was a member of the Under-16 cricket team in Maharashtra, while her father, Shri Shrinivas Mandhana, was both a district cricketer and a chemical dealer. A vague interest in cricket, which was nurtured by watching her brother play, could be assumed to have set in.
At a very tender age of just 9, she represented Maharashtra in the Under-15 team, followed by an Under-19 stint when she was just over 11. It was somewhere in these early days that she was noticed for her sheer natural talent and left-handed style of play. In an atmosphere that was far from being encouraging for women, her talented family paved the way for her to follow her dream.
Education of Smriti Mandhana:
Despite her cricket commitments, Smriti Mandhana provides an expert balance between cricket and education, which forms her broad-minded outlook towards life. She and her family relocated from Mumbai to Sangli, Maharashtra, for her education. Academics were very important to her, but cricket was given precedence. Proper guidance from her parents was almost always available to her to balance her cricket practice and studies.
Generally, her cricketing commitments influenced her decision to study for a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Smriti has always been keen to emphasize the importance of education for herself amid the bustle of her career, attributing this viewpoint to her family and teachers. The academic tale of Smriti goes on to reveal the perseverance and discipline that translate equally well to the cricket field.
Cricket Journey of Smriti Mandhana:
Early on, Smriti Mandhana’s cricket journey began when, in 2013, she scored a double century (224 off 150 balls) in an Under-19 match against Gujarat, catapulting her to instant fame. By 2014, she was already being talked about worldwide. Essentially, the winter days of professional cricket would herald fame for her as a fearsome opener for India across all formats, characterized by her stylish cover drives paired with fearlessness.
She was a significant contributor to India’s run in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup with two half-centuries. Regular match-winning performances in Australia and England have crowned her amongst the best openers in the world, and today, Smriti holds the honourable responsibility of being a spokesperson for Indian women’s cricket.
Journey with the IPL and Domestic:
Talking about her gracing domestic cricket and T20 leagues worldwide long before the Women’s Premier League came into being, Smriti Mandhana was already a household name. She has been a reliable name in the Indian domestic circuit, representing Maharashtra in national competitions. On the international circuit, she has featured alongside the likes of Western Storm in The Hundred, and Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder in WBBL.
The 2023 WPL saw her become much-acclaimed and expensive after Royal Challengers Bangalore signed her for ₹3.4 crore. Challenges appeared to be aplenty amidst the gloomy season; however, she truly stood out with her lavish leadership and batting style. Her history in the IPL and the Domestic T20s illustrates her adaptability across different contexts and formats.
International career:
Smriti Mandhana made her ODI debut against Bangladesh in April 2013 when she was just 16 years old. Soon after that, in August 2014, her Test debut against England displayed some of her typical, elegant stroke-play. She debuted against Bangladesh in T20Is in April 2013 and soon established herself as a key opener. With aggressive intent, she helped India reach the final of the 2017 Women’s World Cup. It is further vindicated as she scored centuries overseas in Tests and ODIs. Due to her consistent performances, she is now among the top-ranked batters in the ICC rankings. She holds an important position in Indian cricket today, serving as the vice-captain of the T20 and ODI formats.
Injuries and Comebacks of Smriti Mandhana:
Just like many other sports persons, Smriti Mandhana’s career has been hindered by injuries. One of the worst injuries she had to face was the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that she sustained in 2017 during the Women’s Big Bash League while being on the sidelines for months. Smriti recovered very well, fought her way back into the Indian team straight away, and played unfettered, albeit with her mental frame being affected by the injury.
Injuries often tested her perseverance, but her obstinacy and hard work ensured she emerged stronger every single time. She credits her success to her support structure of family, coaches, and physiotherapists. Her remarkable recovery evidenced her fortitude and the mental strength she has needed to launch a stable career in international sport.
Personal Life of Smriti Mandhana:
Smriti Mandhana is also said to be humble off the field, along with being one of those mixed traits in her persona. Just like any other celebrity, she has an unshakeable bond with her family – her family relationship is often credited for her prowess. She shares a good rapport with her brother Shravan, who was a significant influence in her cricketing career.
Outside the cricket pitch, Smriti is said to be in love with music and loves to chill out with friends. While she keeps her personal life quite under wraps, her fans get a glimpse of her happy moments on social media. Besides being a cricketer, Smriti is someone who strongly supports initiatives for women’s cricket in India, aiming to erase stereotypes and encourage more girls to play.
Career Stats of Smriti Mandhana:
Test Debut:
Smiriti made her debut test against England at Wormsley on August 13, 2014; she was confident to play for India in her first test match. She guided India to its first Test victory by scoring 51 in the second innings. She coolly composed herself and applied her fine stroke play to adjust to red-ball cricket. Smriti has been a consistent major contributor, notably scoring an incredible century against Australia in 2021, and has proved herself more trustworthy as a format opener despite India playing very few women’s Test matches.
ODI Debut:
One of the youngest added to the elite list of players to don the Indian jersey, Smriti Mandhana’s debut was in ODIs on April 10, 2013, against Bangladesh held at Ahmedabad. Though not a promising debut, it did not affect her as she had grabbed most eyeballs in grace that combined with her batting. She went on to make over 3000 runs that included a plethora of match-winning centuries — many of them scored under challenging conditions internationally — and thus, is India’s most reliable ODI opener. With her ODI debut, a different chapter began for the batting revolution witnessed in India.
T20 Debut:
Smriti Mandhana’s first Twenty20 international match was on April 5, 2013, against Bangladesh. Rather quickly, she became one of the most destructive openers in women’s cricket by adapting her offensive style to the shortest form. She has accumulated more than 3000 runs in T20Is at a strike rate exceeding 120, and she is known for her adventurous batting in powerplays. Smriti has been India’s asset with her explosive starts in ICC events. The versatility and her innate attacking instincts were on exhibit in her T20 debut.
IPL Debut:
In the first auction, Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive player by being sold for ₹3.4 crore, and then, in 2023, she made her IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). She captained RCB and participated in the league with her vast international experience and stylish batting. While her debut season wasn’t the most successful, she added a substantial amount of value to the team and increased the league’s attractiveness. Smriti’s entry to the top women’s T20 league in India clearly demonstrated her stardom and how she would influence the future of women’s cricket in the country.
Achievements of Smriti Mandhana:
- ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Awards for 2018 and 2021.
- For her outstanding contributions, she was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award in 2018.
- Honored by the Arjuna Award of the Government of India in 2018.
- Fastest fifty by India in Women’s T20Is. Scored in just 24 balls.
- The youngest Indian captain to lead a Twenty20 International match.
- Demonstrated exceptional batting skills by scoring centuries against top opponents, such as Australia and England.
- Remains among the best ICC batters, sealing her reliability on the international platform.
Here are Some of the Lesser-Known Facts about Smriti Madhana
- Smriti has become the second Indian female cricketer to score a double century in an Under-19 match.
- She draws most of her batting from Matthew Hayden and Kumar Sangakkara, whom she admires.
- Writing with her right hand, she is famous for being a left-handed batter.
- Before matches, Smriti likes listening to Bollywood music, which is by far her favorite.
- Her brother’s cricketing adventure encouraged her to take the game seriously.
- In 2023, Smriti was the most expensive player in the Women’s Premier League.
- Back then, she once said that had she not been a cricketer, she would have taken up business or hospitality as her career.
The transformation from a young cricket enthusiast in Sangli to one of the world’s best batters is a journey as deep as it is talent-driven and hard work. But, in addition to winning such medals for India, she has also been a global inspiration for young cricket players. Her legacy encompasses exceptional batting, resilience against injury, and notable leadership abilities. Smriti remains the beacon of women’s cricket in India, with many more cricket years left to come. She says dreams come true with passion and perseverance.
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