New Delhi : On Tuesday, India’s star cricketer Smriti Mandhana, who made her international debut at the age of 16 against Bangladesh in 2013, celebrates her 27th birthday. As vice captain, Mandhana’s dedication and commitment to the sport are evident as she prepares for the second ODI against Bangladesh scheduled for Wednesday.
Since her debut, the elegant opener has consistently displayed her talent on the cricket field, representing India in four Test matches, 78 ODIs, and 119 T20Is. However, Mandhana truly took centre stage during the 2017 ICC World Cup, where she showcased her exceptional batting skills. Her stellar performances played a pivotal role in taking India to the World Cup finals, although they were narrowly defeated by England by a margin of nine runs.
Currently, Mandhana stands as a senior member of the Indian women’s cricket team, having firmly established herself as a pillar of the side. As she celebrates her 27th birthday, let’s take a look at her remarkable records and achievements.
Mandhana holds the distinction of becoming the third-quickest Indian to score 1000 runs in T20Is. She is also the tenth-fastest batter in the history of women’s cricket to achieve this feat. Impressively, the Mumbai-born batter took just 49 innings to cross the 1000-run mark. In February 2019, she set the record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian player, achieving the milestone against New Zealand in a mere 24 balls.
Another noteworthy achievement for Mandhana came when she became the first player in the history of women’s ODIs to score ten consecutive fifties or more while chasing. This exceptional run began in 2018, when she scored 67 runs off 53 deliveries against Australia Women.
Recognising her remarkable performances, Mandhana was named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in both 2018 and 2021, solidifying her position among the sport’s top players. She also made a memorable Test debut, scoring a half-century during India’s historic Test victory over England. Moreover, in 2021, she and her opening partner Shafali Verma achieved a partnership of 167 runs, which stands as the fourth-highest in the history of women’s Test cricket.
In addition to her individual accolades, Mandhana shares the prestigious distinction of winning the ‘Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award’ twice alongside Australia’s Elyse Perry. Furthermore, in 2018, she was named the ICC’s ODI Player of the Year after amassing the highest points in the calendar year.
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