Smriti Mandhana shared her journey of taking initial steps into the cricketing world, becoming a prominent figure in Indian women's cricket over the past seven years with several match-winning performances.
Having participated in India's historic Test against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Mandhana revealed that fulfilling her father's dream of seeing one of his children don the national colours was a significant motivation.
"From their childhood, my father and brothers were cricketers. My father didn't get permission to pursue cricket as a profession. So, he wanted both of their kids to play cricket and hoped for one of them to represent India. So, I have listened about cricket from my childhood, maybe since when I was in my mother's womb," Mandhana was quoted as saying on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Mandhana also said that she changed her batting stance from right-handed to left-handed after observing her brother bat in the nets.
"I also used to go for practice, pick up balls for my brother. I learnt to bat by standing behind him in the nets. I am right-handed, but because my brother is left-handed, I learnt to bat left-handed from him. I used to stand behind him and watch him bat. So, that's how I started my cricket journey," she added.
In the recent Test match against Australia in Mumbai, Mandhana contributed significantly as India created history by securing their first-ever victory against Australia in Women's Test cricket. She played a crucial role with the bat, scoring 74 and an unbeaten 38*. The 27-year-old also played a crucial part in hitting the winning runs during the final day's second innings.
Mandhana is gearing up to participate in the T20I and ODI series against Australia, where she holds the position of vice-captain in the Indian women's team.
With a track record encompassing 6 Tests, 80 ODIs, and 125 T20Is, Mandhana has amassed 480, 3179, and 2998 runs, accompanied by six centuries and 51 half-centuries. She also serves as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Women's Premier League (WPL).
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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