By Victoria Hamilton 
Smriti Mandhana is one of the most talented and successful cricketers in India. She has been playing cricket since she was six years old and has never looked back. She has represented India in all three formats of the game and has scored many runs and centuries for her country. She is also the vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team and a role model (favorite) for many young girls who aspire to play cricket.
Smriti Mandhana was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on 18 July 1996. Her father and brother were both cricketers and they encouraged her to pursue her passion for the sport. She started playing cricket with her brother at their backyard and soon joined a local club. She made her debut for Maharashtra in domestic cricket at the age of nine and impressed everyone with her batting skills.
She got her first international call-up in 2013 when she was selected for the Indian women’s cricket team for the home series against Bangladesh. She made her ODI debut on 10 April 2013 and scored a half-century in her second match. She made her T20I debut on 5 April 2013 and scored 39 runs off 24 balls. She also made her Test debut in 2014 against England and scored 22 runs.
Smriti Mandhana has been a consistent performer for India in all formats of the game. She has scored over 2000 runs in ODIs and over 1000 runs in T20Is. She also holds the record for the fastest fifty by an Indian woman in T20Is, scoring it in just 25 balls. She has also scored four centuries and 17 half-centuries in ODIs, including a career-best 135 against South Africa in 2018.
Smriti Mandhana has also been a part of many memorable victories for India. She was instrumental in India’s run to the final of the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup, where she scored two centuries and one half-century. She was also the leading run-scorer for India in the 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup, where she scored three half-centuries and was named in the team of the tournament. She also helped India win their first-ever T20I series against Australia in 2016.
Smriti Mandhana is not only a great cricketer but also a great person. She is humble, hardworking, and dedicated to her game. She is also an inspiration for many young girls who want to follow their dreams and achieve their goals. She is a true star of Indian cricket and we wish her all the best for her future endeavors.
Zainab Shafiq