Born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Smriti Mandhana made her debut for the Indian Cricket Team in 2013 at the age of only 16 years. Smriti's cricketing journey began at the age of five, and she quickly made a name for herself in the domestic circuit with her consistent performances. She extended her batting prowess overseas by scoring a century in the Women's Big Bash League in Australia, playing for the Sydney Thunder.
The India opener and stylish left-handed batter became the most expensive bid of the inaugural edition of the WPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore went all guns blazing to get Smriti Mandhana for a whopping INR 3.40 Crore. RCB made no hesitations in announcing Mandhana as their captain ahead of the much awaited inaugural season of WPL.
With her attacking style of play, Smriti has been a key player for the Indian team, both in ODIs & T20Is. She played a crucial role in India's run to the final of the ICC Women's World Cup in 2017, where she scored a total of 232 runs in nine matches including a blistering century. Smriti was named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2021 for her splendid 855 runs in 22 internationals at an average of 38.86, including a century and five fifties. She continues to inspire future generations of cricketers with her performances and dedication to the sport.
Leading a star-studded RCB team, the expectations from Smriti Mandhana will be massive and the opponent teams will be eyeing her all-important wicket at the top.
