Smriti Mandhana hails from a cricketing family, where her father had a notable stint in district level cricket for Sangli, and her brother made his mark by representing Maharashtra in the under-16 level. Cricket has been ingrained in Smriti's life since childhood.
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Displaying extraordinary talent, the left-handed prodigy joined the Maharashtra under-15 team at an incredible age of 9, followed by a remarkable inclusion in the Maharashtra under-19 team at 11.
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Mandhana became the first Indian woman to achieve a double century in a one-day match. In a West Zone tournament in 2013, she scored a staggering 224 runs off 150 balls for Maharashtra, using a bat gifted by Rahul Dravid.
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Mandhana, one of the youngest debutants, joined the Indian team for the 2013 Bangladesh series. Since her first game in April that year, she has continuously progressed, leaving no room for doubt or turning back.
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At the age of 18, Mandhana debuted in Test cricket against England in August 2014. Although yet to shine in the longest format, her young age allows room for improvement and promises a brighter future in Test matches.
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Smriti set a new record for the fastest T20I fifty against New Zealand, achieving the milestone in a mere 24 balls. Remarkably, she surpassed her own previous record of 30 balls against Australia in 2018. Her exceptional batting prowess continues to redefine the game.
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A notable achievement, Mandhana has captained India in T20Is, becoming the youngest woman to do so at the age of 22. Her leadership role adds to her already impressive cricketing career, showcasing her versatility and talent on the field.
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Mandhana topped India's run charts in the ICC Women's Championship with 911 runs in 19 matches, averaging 65.07. Her remarkable performance included two centuries and nine half-centuries, crucial for Women's Cricket World Cup qualification.
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Mandhana, reaching 1,000 T20I runs in 2018, became the second-fastest Indian woman cricketer in 49 innings. She is also the 10th fastest woman overall. Mithali Raj holds the record, achieving the milestone in 40 innings.
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Mandhana holds the record for the second-highest number of fifty-plus scores in T20Is by a female cricketer, with 13 remarkable innings. However, the top spot belongs to former captain Mithali Raj, who has achieved this feat 17 times.
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