Table of Contents
Smriti Mandhana stands as one of the most accomplished and celebrated cricketers in the history of women's cricket. The elegant left-handed opener has transformed Indian women's cricket with her aggressive batting style, record-breaking performances, and inspiring leadership both on and off the field.
Early Life and Cricket Beginnings
Born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana comes from a Marwari Hindu family. When she was just two years old, her family relocated to Madhavnagar, a suburb of Sangli in Maharashtra, where she completed her schooling at Shardashram Vidyamandir International School and later attended Chintaman Rao College of Commerce in Sangli.
Cricket runs deep in the Mandhana family. Her father, Shrinivas Mandhana, worked as a chemical distributor and played cricket at the district level for Sangli, while her brother Shravan also represented Maharashtra at the Under-16 level before pursuing academics and becoming a bank manager. Watching her brother compete in Maharashtra state Under-16 tournaments inspired young Smriti to take up the sport at the tender age of six.
The Left-Handed Switch
One of the most fascinating aspects of Smriti's cricket journey is that she is naturally right-handed. However, influenced by her father's fascination with left-handed batters, both she and her brother adopted left-handed batting. "I am a right-hander otherwise, but because my father had a fascination for left-hand batsmen, my brother and I played left-handed," Mandhana revealed. This decision, made in childhood while watching her brother practice, would prove instrumental in shaping her distinctive batting style.
Rise Through the Ranks
Smriti's prodigious talent became evident early. At just nine years old, she was selected for Maharashtra's Under-15 team, and by eleven, she had advanced to the Maharashtra Under-19 squad—an extraordinary achievement showcasing her exceptional abilities.
Her breakthrough moment came in October 2013 when, at seventeen, she became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a one-day game. Playing for Maharashtra against Gujarat in the West Zone Under-19 Tournament at the Alembic Cricket Ground in Vadodara, she smashed an unbeaten 224 off just 150 balls, hitting 32 boundaries and reaching her double century in just 138 balls. Remarkably, she achieved this feat using a bat gifted to her by cricket legend Rahul Dravid, which her brother had received during a visit to Bangalore.
International Career Milestones
Debut and Early Success
Smriti made her international debut at age 16 in April 2013, playing both ODI and T20I matches against Bangladesh. Her Test debut came in August 2014 against England at Wormsley, where she scored a crucial 51 in the second innings, helping India secure a historic six-wicket victory.
Format-wise Track Record
Test Cricket: In 7 Test matches, Mandhana has scored 629 runs at an impressive average of 57.18, with a highest score of 149. She has registered 3 fifties and 2 centuries in the format.
ODI Cricket: Mandhana's ODI record is nothing short of spectacular. In 114 matches, she has amassed 5,219 runs at an average of 48.32, including 14 centuries and 34 fifties, with a highest score of 136. She is the second-highest century maker in women's ODI cricket, only behind Australia's Meg Lanning (15 centuries).
T20I Cricket: In 153 T20I matches, she has scored 3,982 runs at a strike rate of 123.98, including 1 century and 31 fifties, with a highest score of 112.
Record-Breaking 2024-2025
2024: The Year of Dominance
2024 was a dream year for Mandhana. She scored 763 runs in T20Is, the most by any player (male or female) in T20I cricket in a single calendar year, surpassing Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu (720 runs). She also hit 8 fifties in T20Is during the year, breaking Mithali Raj's record of 7.
In ODIs, Mandhana scored 747 runs at an average of 57.46, striking four centuries—a record for the most ODI centuries in a calendar year in women's cricket. She hit 95 fours and 6 sixes at an impressive strike rate of 95.15.
2025: Breaking New Barriers
Mandhana continued her extraordinary form into 2025. On September 20, 2025, she scored the fastest ODI century by an Indian (male or female), reaching 100 runs in just 50 balls against Australia at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, breaking Virat Kohli's 52-ball record from 2013. She finished with 125 runs off 63 balls, including 17 fours and 5 sixes.
On January 15, 2025, she became the first Indian female cricketer to score 10 ODI centuries. By October 2025, she had extended this to 14 ODI centuries, equaling the record for most centuries in a calendar year (5) alongside South Africa's Tazmin Brits.
In October 2025, during the Women's World Cup match against New Zealand, Mandhana scored her 17th international century, equaling Australian legend Meg Lanning's record for the most centuries in women's international cricket across all formats. This century, scored off 88 balls, was also the fastest by an Indian in Women's World Cup history.
Leadership and Franchise Cricket
Women's Premier League Success
Smriti captains Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Women's Premier League, where she was the most expensive player in the inaugural 2023 auction at ?3.4 crore. After a challenging first season where RCB finished fourth, Mandhana led the team to a remarkable turnaround in 2024, guiding them to their maiden WPL title—the first trophy for the RCB franchise across both men's and women's formats.
International Vice-Captaincy
As vice-captain of the Indian women's cricket team, Mandhana has been instrumental in India's success across formats. She helped India win the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where India defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final. She also contributed to India's silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Awards and Honors
Smriti's excellence has earned her numerous accolades:
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ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year (2018, 2021, 2025) - making her only the second cricketer after Ellyse Perry to win the award twice, and she has now won it three times
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ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year (2025)
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BCCI Best International Women's Cricketer Award (2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2024)
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Arjuna Award (2019)
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Wisden India Cricketer of the Year (2019)
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Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award (2018)
In December 2018, the ICC honored her with the prestigious Cricketer of the Year award, making her one of the most decorated players in women's cricket history.
Unknown Truths and Lesser-Known Facts
Personal Life
Smriti has been dating music composer and filmmaker Palash Muchhal since 2019. In October 2025, Palash confirmed their upcoming wedding, stating at a press event in Indore that Smriti "will soon become the daughter-in-law of Indore".
Business Ventures
As a self-confessed foodie, Smriti fulfilled a childhood dream by opening SM 18 Sports Café in her hometown Sangli in 2019. Her brother Shravan manages the café, which has become one of the most popular cafés in the city. The business has expanded to include SM 18 Turf Club.
Hobbies and Interests
Beyond cricket, Smriti is an avid gamer who loves playing Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). She describes gaming as her go-to stress-buster. She is also passionate about cooking, having taken Punjabi cooking classes, and considers Paneer Tikka Masala her specialty. Her culinary skills are, in her own words, "a relaxing therapy."
Smriti is a travel enthusiast, with Switzerland and Australia topping her favorite holiday destinations. She loves watching Bollywood and Hollywood movies, with "Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai" (2000) and "3 Idiots" (2009) among her favorites. Her favorite cricketers include Kumar Sangakkara and Sachin Tendulkar, while she admires footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Educational Sacrifices
At age 15, Smriti wanted to pursue science but her mother stopped her, saying she wouldn't be able to handle both science studies and cricket together. She later missed her 12th board exams and college admissions due to the Women's T20 World Cup and a tour to England.
The Dravid Connection
The bat gifted by Rahul Dravid holds special significance. "I have been scoring very well since the time I have started playing with Dravid sir's bat," Mandhana said after her record 224-run innings. She made her ODI and T20I debuts with the same bat.
Controversies
In April 2022, during the Senior Women's T20 League match between Maharashtra and Rajasthan, Mandhana was involved in a heated exchange with opposition players after being 'mankaded' (run out at the non-striker's end) by Rajasthan bowler KP Choudhary. She scored 28 runs before the controversial dismissal, which sparked intense debate about the spirit of the game.
Brand Endorsements and Net Worth
As of 2025, Smriti Mandhana's estimated net worth is approximately ?32-34 crore (around $4 million). Her income sources include:
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BCCI Grade A Contract: ?50 lakh per annum
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International Match Fees: ?15 lakh per Test, ?6 lakh per ODI, ?3 lakh per T20I
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WPL Contract: ?3.4 crore per season with RCB
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The Hundred Contract: ?62 lakh per season with Southern Brave
She endorses numerous high-profile brands including Red Bull, Hyundai, Nike, Hero Motocorp, Mastercard, Garnier, Gulf Oil India, Havells, Wrangler, PlayerzPot, PNB MetLife, Equitas Small Finance Bank, Rexona India, and Unicef India. Each endorsement deal reportedly earns her between ?50-75 lakh. After leading RCB to the WPL title in 2024, her brand value increased by 30%.
Legacy and Impact
Smriti Mandhana has fundamentally changed the landscape of women's cricket in India. Her elegant strokeplay, particularly her signature cover drive, combined with an aggressive mindset, has made her one of the most feared opening batters in world cricket. She holds the record for most runs as an opening batter in women's ODIs (5,194 runs), surpassing New Zealand's Suzie Bates.
With 17 international centuries across formats (14 in ODIs, 2 in Tests, 1 in T20Is), she has equaled Meg Lanning's record for the most hundreds in women's international cricket. She also holds the record for most fifty-plus scores in women's T20Is (30), surpassing Suzie Bates.
Her influence extends beyond statistics. As a role model for millions of young girls aspiring to pursue cricket, Smriti has become the face of Indian women's cricket. Her journey from practicing in the bylanes of Sangli to becoming one of the world's leading cricketers exemplifies dedication, talent, and resilience. Whether breaking records with the bat, leading RCB to glory, or inspiring the next generation through her café business and brand endorsements, Smriti Mandhana continues to redefine what it means to be a complete cricketing icon in modern India.
