'Winning it will motivate me to continue to better my game,' Smriti Mandhana says after winning ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award

India’s Smriti Mandhana won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's Cricketer of the Year for 2021, on January 24 (Monday). Mandhana now will receive the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, named in honour of former England captain.

In Test cricket, she had played in four Tests in 2021 and in those four games she managed to score 244 runs at an average of 61. On the other hand, in the ODIs, Mandhana played 11 matches and scored 352 runs. In ODIs, her average is 35.2.

In the shortest format of the game, Mandhana scored 255 runs in the year 2021. Her average in T20Is, in 2021 has been 31.87.

While talking about the award, Mandhana said she is “truly honoured” for receiving the prestigious award.

“I am truly honoured for receiving the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2021. I am grateful to my team-mates, my coaches, my family, friends, and fans who believed in my potential and supported me in this journey,” Mandhana was quoted while talking to ICC.

In the ICC's T20I team of the year, Mandhana has been the only Indian cricketer to feature in the elite list. 

The Mumbai-born cricketer feels that awards like these will “motivate” her to take her career forward. 

“A recognition of such high class from the global governing body of cricket in an exceptional and difficult year will motivate me to continue to better my game and contribute to Team India’s success going forward. I look forward to 2022 with a clear focus on winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand as we continue to prepare as a team and unit,” she added. 

Indian women’s cricket team will face New Zealand and after that the Indian women’s team will take part in the Women’s World Cup 2022. The Women’s World Cup is slated to be played in New Zealand, in March.

On the other hand, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was named International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI Cricketer of the Year. England skipper Joe Root was named as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Test Cricketer of the Year for 2021.