Smriti Mandhana: Biography, Early Life, Records, Achievements, And More

Smriti Mandhana isn’t just a name anymore, she’s a revolution in Indian women’s cricket. From shadowing her brother at net practice to becoming one of the biggest stars of the game, her journey is nothing short of inspirational. Let’s take a deep dive into the life and rise of the woman who is often touted as Mithali Raj’s heir and Indian cricket’s shining beacon.

Early Life and Family Background

Smriti Mandhana was born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai. But her story truly began in Madhavnagar, a sleepy suburb in Sangli, Maharashtra, where her family shifted when she was just two years old. This small town would become the breeding ground for a future cricketing giant.

Cricket ran deep in the Mandhana household. Her father, Shrinivas, was a chemical distributor with a solid love for the game, having played at the district level. Her mother, Smita, held the family together as a homemaker. And then there was her brother, Shravan, a budding cricketer who played for Maharashtra U-19.

Following Her Brother’s Footsteps

Tagging along to her brother’s practice sessions was just a fun thing for young Smriti—until it wasn’t. Watching Shravan hit balls and seeing his name in the newspaper lit a spark in her. That little flame grew fast. Here’s a fun twist—both Shravan and Smriti are naturally right-handed. But their father, a fan of elegant left-handers like Sourav Ganguly, encouraged them to bat left-handed. “Because my father had a fascination for left-handed batsmen, my brother and I played left-handed. So that is how it started,” Smriti has often chuckled in interviews.

Early Cricketing Journey

Smriti’s real cricketing education began under coach Anant Tambwekar, a junior state-level trainer who spotted her raw talent early. By age nine, she was playing for the Maharashtra U-15 team. Two years later, she was already competing in the U-19 category, going up against much older players and still dominating.

At 15, Smriti had to choose between a future in science or cricket. Her mom gave her some solid advice: “Pick commerce—it’ll give you more time to train.” She did just that and went on to graduate from Chintaman Rao College of Commerce, all while growing into one of India’s cricketing wonders.

India Debut at Just 16

Smriti made her international debut in a T20 match against Bangladesh in Vadodara on April 5, 2013. At just 16 years old, she top-scored with 39 runs. Five days later, she made her ODI debut, once again showing nerves of steel and promise beyond her years.

A Special Bat from Rahul Dravid

Her debut wasn’t just special because of the runs—it was made with a signed bat from Rahul Dravid, gifted to her by her brother. It wasn’t meant to be used, but Smriti loved the balance and made it her weapon of choice.

Smriti Mandhana explained, “Shravan met Rahul sir and requested him if he could give a bat. So he gave it to him and signed it with my name. My brother was also very sweet, got him to sign it for me. I was just going to keep it as a showpiece as an autographed bat from Dravid but as soon as I picked it, I found it had an amazing balance and I started playing with it.”

That same bat would later smash 224 not out off 150 balls in an U-19 one-day match, making Smriti the first Indian woman to score a double century in a 50-over game.

Test Debut and a Historic Win

Her Test debut came in 2014 against England at Wormsley. She scored a crucial 51 in the second innings, helping India win their first Test in eight years.

In 2016, Smriti scored her maiden international century—102 against Australia at Hobart. She powered India’s journey to the 2017 World Cup final, finishing as the third-highest run scorer for India despite recovering from an ACL injury. 2018 was her year. She won ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, ICC ODI Player of the Year, and became World No. 1 in ODIs.

Captaincy and Fastest Records

In 2019, Smriti became the youngest Indian captain—across men and women—in T20s at just 22 years and 229 days. She clocked a 50 in 18 balls, equaling Sophie Devine’s record, and later hit a 70-ball ODI century, the fastest by any Indian woman.

After a COVID lull, Smriti returned with a bang—ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year again in 2021. Even though India didn’t advance, she topped the scoring charts with 327 runs.

Smriti was vice-captain as India bagged silver at the Commonwealth Games. A year later, she helped India bring home gold from the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou.

Women’s Premier League Stardom

She became the most expensive player in the WPL auction, snapped up by RCB for ₹3.4 crore. In 2024, she led them to their first WPL title, beating Delhi Capitals in a thrilling final.

2024 – A Year of Unbreakable Records

4 ODI centuries in a single calendar year—a world record. Surpassed Laura Wolvaardt for most runs in a year across formats. Named in both the ICC ODI and T20I Teams of the Year.

Scored the fastest ODI century by an Indian woman (70 balls vs Ireland). India posted their highest ever ODI score: 435/5, in that same game.

Smriti Mandhana’s numbers are astonishing. But what sets her apart is her grit, elegance, and the way she carries the future of Indian cricket on her shoulders—just like her predecessor Mithali Raj once did. At just 28, she’s already rewriting record books.

Smriti Mandhana’s journey from a small town to global cricketing stardom is a masterclass in dedication, talent, and quiet resilience. She didn’t just dream—she trained, she hustled, and she delivered. With many more years ahead, Smriti isn’t just part of Indian women’s cricket history—she is the history in the making.

Smriti Mandhana records and achievements

• Second cricketer after Australia’s Ellyse Perry to win the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award (Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award) twice
• Joint-fastest T20 50 in women’s cricket with New Zealand’s Sophie Devine (18 balls)
• Fastest T20I 50 by an Indian woman (23 balls)
• Fastest ODI 100 by an Indian woman (70 balls)
• Second Indian woman to score 3,000 runs in T20I cricket
• Fastest Indian woman to score 4,000 runs in ODI cricket
• Second-highest Indian run scorer in women’s ODIs after Mithali Raj
• First cricketer to score 10 consecutive 50-plus scores while chasing in ODI cricket
• First Indian women’s cricketer to score an ODI and Test century in Australia
• First Indian woman to score a double century in 50-over cricket (Maharashtra vs Gujarat)
• Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medal winner
• Asian Games 2023 gold medal winner
• Led RCB to WPL 2024 title
• Most ODI centuries (4) scored in a single calendar year in women’s cricket

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