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India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who recently ended her wedding plans with Palash Muchhal, said she has realised that nothing matters to her more than cricket.
The World Cup-winning batter looked back on her journey, from making her debut in 2013 to playing a key part in India’s World Cup victory just a month ago.
"I don't think I love anything more than cricket. Wearing that Indian jersey is the motivation that drives us. You keep all your problems aside, and that thought alone helps you focus on life," she said at the Amazon Smbhav Summit here on Wednesday.
She always had clarity about her ambition.
"As a kid, the madness for batting was always there. No one understood it, but in my mind, I always wanted to be called a world champion."
Smriti Mandhana's performance in ODI World Cup 2025
Smriti had played a monumental role in India's Women's World Cup triumph. She finished the tournament with a total of 434 runs under her name from nine innings, including a century and two half-centuries. She was also India's highest run-getter and the tournament's second-highest scorer overall. Mandhana said the trophy felt like a culmination of the team’s long struggle.
"This World Cup was the reward for the battle we fought over the years. We were waiting for it so badly. I’ve been playing for more than 12 years — many times things didn’t go our way. We visualised it before the final, and when we finally saw it on the screen, it gave us goosebumps. It was an incredible, special moment," the Indian vice-captain said.
Smriti Mandhana on Jhulan and Mithali's presence
Mandhana said the presence of veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami at the final heightened the emotion. Notably, India's legendary captains Jhulan Goswami and Mihali Raj were there at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai when the Women in Blue defeated South Africa in the title decider to win their maiden silverware.
"We really wanted to do it for them, badly. Seeing tears in their eyes made it feel like women's cricket itself was winning. It was a battle won for all of them," she said.
Mandhana said the World Cup reinforced two enduring lessons.
"You always start an innings at zero, no matter if you scored a hundred before. And don't play for yourself - that's what we kept reminding each other," she said.
Smriti Mandhana's upcoming outing
Smriti Mandhana will be seen in the action in the five-match T20I series against South Africa which is scheduled to start from December 21.
India's squad against Sri Lanka
Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice captain), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.
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