There are players who break records. Then there are those who change the game forever. Smriti Mandhana belongs to the latter. She isn’t just a batter—she’s a movement. From quiet beginnings in Maharashtra to becoming India’s poster girl for women’s cricket, her journey has been nothing short of cinematic. And if there’s one consistent highlight…
Smriti Mandhana (born 18 July 1996) is a premier Indian international cricketer and the current vice-captain of the India Women’s National Team. Known for her graceful strokeplay and consistency across formats, she holds the record as the first Indian woman to score a century in all three international formats. Mandhana ranks second in most international centuries among Indian women and is fourth in terms of ODI centuries.
She represents Maharashtra in domestic cricket and is the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where she captained the team to their first title in 2024. Her accolades include multiple ICC Awards such as Cricketer of the Year and ODI Cricketer of the Year, reflecting her immense contribution to women’s cricket globally.
Early Life and Background
Born in Mumbai and raised in Madhavnagar, Sangli, Smriti comes from a Marwari Hindu family. Inspired by her brother’s cricketing journey and supported by her family, she joined Maharashtra’s Under-15 team by age nine and the Under-19 team by eleven. Her education was at Chintaman Rao College of Commerce, Sangli.
Personal Life
Smriti Mandhana has been in a relationship with music composer and filmmaker Palash Muchhal since 2019.
Youth & Domestic Breakthrough
Mandhana’s first breakthrough came in 2013 when she smashed an unbeaten 224 off 150 balls in a U-19 one-day match against Gujarat. In the 2016 Challenger Trophy, she was the tournament’s top scorer with 192 runs and played a match-winning knock of 62* in the final.
Franchise Career Highlights
Brisbane Heat (2016–17): One of the first Indian women to play in the WBBL.
Western Storm (2018) and Hobart Hurricanes (2018–19): First Indian to feature in the Kia Super League.
Southern Brave (2021–2022): Notable performances in The Hundred.
Sydney Thunder (2021): Scored one of the highest ever WBBL scores.
RCB (2023–present): Bought for ₹3.4 crores; captained the team to the 2024 WPL title and was the tournament’s second-highest run scorer.
International Career Overview
Smriti made her Test debut in August 2014 and scored 51 in the second innings, helping India win. Her maiden international century came in an ODI against Australia in 2016. She was a key figure in India’s 2017 World Cup run, scoring 90 against England and an unbeaten 106 against West Indies.
Career Highlights:
Scored the fastest fifty for India in Women’s T20Is (24 balls vs New Zealand).
Became India’s youngest T20I captain at 22 years and 229 days (2019).
Scored centuries in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is – the first Indian woman to do so.
763 T20I runs in 2024 – most by any player in a calendar year.
Fastest Indian woman to 4,000 ODI runs.
Scored 10 ODI centuries as of 2025.
International Centuries Summary
Format
Centuries
Test
2
ODI
11
T20I
1
Total
14
Awards and Recognition
Smriti Mandhana has earned several prestigious accolades:
Arjuna Award (2019)
ICC Cricketer of the Year (2018 & 2022)
ODI Cricketer of the Year (2018 & 2024)
BCCI Best International Cricketer (2018, 2025)
Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World (2025)
She has also been a consistent nominee for the Indian Sports Honours and BBC Sportswoman of the Year awards.
Legacy and Impact
Smriti Mandhana is more than a cricketer; she is a symbol of the rise of women’s cricket in India. Her elegant batting, leadership qualities, and groundbreaking milestones have inspired a generation of young girls to dream big and break barriers in sports.
