Smriti Mandhana led the Royal Challengers Bangalore to their first WPL title with 300 runs over 10 matches. Here's a look back at how the left-hander crafted her own elegant batting style
Even before Smriti ended Bangalore’s long wait for turning “Ee Sala Cup Namde” to “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” on March 17, the 27-year-old Indian opener was already having an exceptional year. She is the top-ranked Indian woman in the ICC T20 and ODI rankings and set a record at the IPL when Royal Challengers Bangalore signed her for Rs 3.4 crore in the 2023 auction.
At 15, Smriti opted for cricket over her passion for science. A decade on, both Bangalore and Indian cricket fans would be grateful for her decision. Her profile below, first published in August 2022, traces her journey from Sangli in Maharashtra to the top of the world cricket.
At a shade over 26 years of age, Smriti Mandhana is still young in cricketing terms. But, the left-hand batter has lived and breathed cricket for so much of her life now that she is something of a veteran too. If this feels like a contradiction, consider the facts.
Smriti’s brother Shravan Mandhana was making a name for himself in age-group cricket in Maharashtra when she would accompany him to cricket sessions. But, while Shravan traded cricket for a banking job after his Under-19 days, Smriti cracked her first Maharashtra team (Under-15) when she was only nine years old. By the time she was 11, Smriti was fast-tracked into the Maharashtra Under-19 team.
At 15, Smriti opted for cricket over her passion for science. A decade on, both Bangalore and Indian cricket fans would be grateful for her decision. Her profile below, first published in August 2022, traces her journey from Sangli in Maharashtra to the top of the world cricket.
At a shade over 26 years of age, Smriti Mandhana is still young in cricketing terms. But, the left-hand batter has lived and breathed cricket for so much of her life now that she is something of a veteran too. If this feels like a contradiction, consider the facts.
Smriti’s brother Shravan Mandhana was making a name for himself in age-group cricket in Maharashtra when she would accompany him to cricket sessions. But, while Shravan traded cricket for a banking job after his Under-19 days, Smriti cracked her first Maharashtra team (Under-15) when she was only nine years old. By the time she was 11, Smriti was fast-tracked into the Maharashtra Under-19 team.