Smriti Mandhana becomes the first cricketer to get her own ‘Barbie’ — and the cricket world surely didn’t see it coming

The Barbie honour reflects not only her on-field achievements but also her impact as a role model for young girls aspiring to pursue sports professionally.This moment blends sport and pop culture, which nobody saw coming. Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has added another historic milestone to her glittering career, ahead of International Women’s Day 2026. The star has been unexpectedly immortalised by getting her very own Barbie doll.From cover drives to Barbie shelves, this announcement has now created waves and not just among the cricket fans but also across the fashion, sports, and pop-culture segments. The brand is celebrated for supporting trailblazing women and has often honoured athletes, artists, and leaders who inspire the next generations, and Smriti becomes the first cricketer to be represented as a 'Barbie'. According to a report in News18, Nathan Baynard, the vice president and head of Barbie at Mattel, said, “Barbie has always championed the belief that girls can be anything. From astronauts to CEOs, Barbie has broken barriers and redefined what’s possible – igniting imagination and inspiring generations of girls to dream without limits.”This year’s dream team includes women who were first in their fields to get their own Barbie. They are listed below.Serena Williams (Global): Tennis Legend with 23 Grand Slam singles titles.Kellie Gerardi from the United States: Research astronaut and payload specialist. Regina Sirvent Alvarado from Mexico: Professional race car driver.Chloe Kelly from the United Kingdom: Professional footballer.Helene Fischer from Germany: One of Germany’s most famous contemporary pop artists.Zoja Skubis from Poland: Youngest Polish woman to summit Manaslu and Mount Everest.Stephanie Gilmore from Australia: Professional surfer. Only a few Indian personalities have actually received Barbie dolls modelled after them. These OOAK (one-of-a-kind) dolls created by Mattel honour inspiring women in culture, sports, entertainment, and social impact. Manasi Joshi, a para-badminton world champion, received a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll in 2020, whereas actress Katrina Kaif became the first Bollywood actor to have a Barbie doll modelled after her in 2010, which was inspired by her look at a fashion week.