The hunger to win never changes: Smriti Mandhana

Royal Challengers Bengaluru added another chapter to their growing legacy as they clinched their second Women’s Premier League title under captain Smriti Mandhana. After the win, Smriti dedicated the triumph to the fans, crediting them for their unwavering presence. “RCB fans are the best in the world. Wherever we play, we feel their support. They keep believing in us, and whatever we do on the field is for them. This title belongs to them as much as it does to us,” she said. Yet, for Smirti, success is never a reason to pause. “Cricket is a game where you always start from zero. It’s about doing well in the present and continuing to do the right things. Especially after our wins, the hunger and motivation remains unchanged,” she says in her chat with us a day before the finals. “Our focus has been to keep performing well and to show up as a unit,” she says, as she talks about leadership, learning and of be longing. Excerpts:There is a strong sense of togetherness within the Indian team too. How did that develop? We tour together for almost 10 months a year. When you spend that much time with each other, you end up seeing your teammates more than your own family. It natu rally becomes like a second family. There are ups and downs, but we’re always there for each other. If someone has an off day, everyone makes sure that person is okay. That support system is very impor tant, especially for a young group. It creates a safe space where players can express themselves and per form freely. As a senior player, how do you support and guide younger teammates during challenging moments? The most important thing is keeping things normal. We approach practice sessions and meetings the same way after losses as we do after wins. When younger players see that the mood doesn’t change drastically, it builds confidence. They realise that one match doesn’t define them. That consistency in approach helps every one stay grounded.“The fan culture is something RCB has built over the last 18 years. It is incredible; they’re called the 12th Man Army for a reason. I’ve played cricket in many parts of the world, and people still come up to talk about RCB. After the second season, I had people randomly thanking me, which I didn’t expect. That’s when I truly realised how big the support system is. They are a huge strength for us, and we always feel that whatever we do on the field is for them,” says Smriti. The captain explains, “The current team coming together in just a month is never easy, but having Indian players who already know each other helps a lot. This year, the overseas players have also gelled really well with the Indian players. It doesn’t feel like people are from different countries anymore; it’s just one group. Every practice session has been fun, every meeting has been fun. Honestly, we haven’t had a dull moment in the last month. When you enjoy each other’s company, it reflects in the way you play”The World Cup win was historic. What’s been different in your life since that achievement? Personally, my mindset hasn’t changed much. The hunger and motivation are still the same. But the magnitude of the win really hit us when we saw how the country celebrated it. That wave of women’s cricket in India will get much more attention. With that comes appreciation as well as criticism, and we need to be prepared for both. I’m very excited about what the next few years hold. Looking back, what stands out as your key learning from the World Cup journey? We worked extremely hard in the six months leading up to the World Cup. Midway through the tournament, we lost a few matches, and doubts start ed creeping in. But we kept doing the right things and trusted the process. We didn’t panic. I strongly believe that if you stay honest to your prepa ration and keep working hard, some magic eventually happens. After the World Cup, I believe in that magic a lot more. If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? Maybe the younger version of me should advise the older version now. When you’re young, you enjoy the game more freely. As you grow, pressures increase, so the reminder would be to keep enjoying the game the way you did when you first started.