Smriti Mandhana, The First Indian Woman To Score 1000 Runs While Chasing In T20I

Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana represents India in the women’s national cricket team. Currently, she is the Vice Captain of the team and just helped India beat Pakistan by eight wickets at the Commonwealth Games 2022.

While scoring 63 against the opponent on July 31, she crossed the 1000-run mark while chasing the target. Joining the league of former and current men’s national cricket team captains, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, she is now the first woman and third Indian batter to add this feather to her cap.

She completed her 15th half-century on the pitch by hitting a sixer, where the ball flew off the ground.

Personal Life

Image Courtesy: Instagram/smriti_mandhana

Born in Mumbai, Mandhana belongs to a Marwari family. Her father and brother have played the sport at the district level for Sangli in Maharashtra. At the age of nine, she was selected to play for the state’s Under-15 team. At 11, she represented the state Under-19 team.

Career Highlights

First Indian Woman To Score 200 In A One-Day

In October 2013, Mandhana became the first female cricketer to have scored a double century in a one-day match. While representing her state, she scored 224 in just 150 balls against Gujarat at the Alembic Cricket Ground, Vadodara.

Top Scorer For Women’s Challenger Trophy

The current Vice Captain of the women’s national team made three half-centuries for India Red. It made her team win the Women’s Challenger Trophy in 2016, and she became the top scorer in the tournament.

One Of The First Indians To Be Signed For The Women’s Big Bash League

In September 2016, Madhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, the current captain of the women’s national team, were signed up for the Women’s Big Bash League. They were the first two Indians to be signed for this.

First Indian To Play For Kia Super League

Image Courtesy: Instagram/smriti_mandhana

In June 2018, Mandhana became the first Indian to be signed up for the Kia Super League. She was defending Western Storm champions.

Only Indian Player To Be Named In The ICC Women’s Team Of The Year 2016

In 2016, India was on a tour of Australia. In the second ODI game, Mandhana scored 102 runs off 109 balls. However, the team lost the game. Yet, she was the only Indian to be named among the ICC Women’s Team of the Year.

Scored The Fastest Fifty In 2019

While playing for India in the Women’s T20I, the sportswoman (Mirabai Chanu Wins Gold) became the first cricketer to score the fastest 50 in just 24 balls. It was a match against New Zealand in 2019.

In 2018, she scored 50 in 30 balls while playing in a Women’s Twenty20 International fixture.

Third Cricketer To Score 1000 Runs In WT20I

In 2018, she was among India’s squad for the Women’s World Twenty20 tournament in which the woman athlete (why we love PV Sindhu) scored 1000 runs to become only the third Indian cricketer to do so in WT20I matches. She was the leading scorer that year.

Youngest T20I Indian Captain

Image Courtesy: Instagram/smriti_mandhana

At the age of only 22, Mandhana became the youngest T20I captain for India against England.

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Third Fastest Cricketer To Score 2000 Runs In WODIs

In November 2019, Mandhana became the third-fastest cricketer to score 2000 runs in Women’s One Day International. She did it in her 51st innings. The same year, she won the International Woman Cricketer of the Year award.

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First Female Cricketer To Score Century In Tests and ODIs

In August 2021, Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to score a century in Tests and ODIs while playing against Australia.

She has achieved so much and made the country proud. With the ongoing Commonwealth 2022, we wish her the best for the upcoming matches.