Smriti Mandhana, a prominent figure in Indian sports and a key player in the Indian women's cricket team, has made remarkable strides as a star batter. Her cricketing journey is highlighted by her participation in six Test matches, 80 ODIs, and 125 T20Is, where she has accumulated over 6000 runs across various formats. In a recent Test match against Australia, Mandhana played a significant role, scoring 74 and 38*, contributing to India's historic victory over Australia in a women's Test match.
Mandhana's popularity extends beyond the cricket field, as evidenced by her substantial male following on Instagram. This aspect of her fame was humorously addressed in an episode of the popular television show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati,' hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. During the show, she appeared alongside fellow cricketer Ishan Kishan. A fan posed an unconventional question about the qualities she appreciates in a man, leading to light-hearted exchanges between the guests and the host.
"I did not expect such a question. Accha ladka ho that is very important. He should be caring and understand my sport. That is two major qualities that he should have. Because as a girl I will not be able to give him that much time. That thing he should understand and he should care about. These are the things which are top priority. These are the qualities which I will look in a man," Mandhana replied to the question.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently announced the squads for the Indian women's team for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur in both ODIs and T20Is, with Smriti Mandhana appointed as the vice-captain. This announcement follows the team's mixed results in their recent series, suffering a 2-1 T20I series defeat against England but achieving historical victories in back-to-back Test matches against England and Australia.
The Indian women's team is scheduled to play three ODIs against Australia, with matches slated for December 28, December 30, and January 2. These games are set to take place at Mumbai's renowned Wankhede Stadium. The series is eagerly anticipated, with fans looking forward to seeing Mandhana, along with the rest of the squad, showcase their talents and continue their success on the international stage.
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