‘That’s How I Started my Cricket Journey’: Smriti Mandhana Reveals How She Became a Cricketer

Team India batter Smriti Mandhana has revealed how she became a cricketer. One of India’s most prolific players, Mandhana recently made an appearance on the popular reality TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati. Mandhana took part in the quiz show along with India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

On the programme, Mandhana disclosed that her father did not get the opportunity to pursue cricket. She even recalled that her father always dreamt of his children representing the country. “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,” Mandhana was quoted as saying.

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Smriti Mandhana said that she had initially started as a right-handed batter before making a switch. It was her brother who influenced her decision after seeing him bat in the nets. “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 explained.

Smriti Mandhana helped India seal a historic Test triumph over Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai last week. The Aussies are in India as part of their tour which started with a one-off Test between the two sides.

Mandhana scored 74 to help India set a massive total of 406 runs. On the bowling front, India’s Sneh Rana took seven wickets in the game. During India’s chase, Mandhana smashed a boundary to secure India’s first-ever victory against the Aussies in women’s Tests. She finished with an unbeaten knock of 38 runs in 61 balls.

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This was India’s second successive Test victory, with the previous one coming against England. During the post-match conference, Smriti Mandhana spoke about the historic win. She said, “It wasn’t that tough. Before the match, we thought it was going to be a rank-turner on days three and four. But if you applied yourself and showed patience, batting wasn’t that hard. Credit to all the batters.”

Smriti Mandhana will next represent India in the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Australia. She’ll be assuming the role of vice-captain in the next fixtures.