In a country where Cricket is considered as a Religion and Cricketers are adored (Sachin has even attained the Godly status), people hardly care about Woman cricketers. However, a change has been observed in the last few years and women’s cricket is slowly getting prominence in India.
As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup has commenced right after the conclusion of ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, where Team India lost to Pakistan in a heart breaking fashion, people were curious to see how our women cricketers perform. Well, they are performing astoundingly, and one cricketer particularly has become the new ‘Crush’ of cricket lovers, thanks to her beautiful looks, confidence both on and off field, and abundant talent.
Her name is Smriti Mandhana. This Indian opener has made it to headlines all over the nation after guiding India to two back to back wins in the ongoing Women’s World Cup 2017. The left-handed batsman smashed 90 runs in the opening game against England, and then she scored a stunning hundred against West Indies in the second game to win the hearts of Indian cricket lovers.
Born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai, she grew up watching and playing cricket. Both her father and brother played cricket at district level. At just 9, she was selected for the Maharashtra under-15 team and at 11, she made her way into the under-19 team of Maharashtra.
Mandhana etched her name in the history in 2013 after becoming the first Indian woman cricketer to score a double hundred in an ODI. She smashed 224 off 150 balls in an Under-19 Tournament. She made her debut at international level in the same year against Bangladesh. Her Test debut happened against England in 2014.
Mandhana was the only Indian player to be named in the ICC Women’s Team of Year 2016. She also has the distinction of being one of the only two Indian players to have been signed up by the reputed Big Bash League.
She will turn 21 on July 16 this year. With a promising career ahead, her current aim is to help India lift the ICC World Cup. It is not an understatement to say that Mandhana has become one of the reasons for cricket lovers to watch Women’s cricket from henceforth.