Smriti Mandhana’s 3 best moments in WPL
India women’s cricket team star batter Smriti Mandhana is celebrating her 28th birthday today (July 18). She made her debut way back in 2013 and currently serves as the vice-captain of India’s women's team. The opening batter will be seen in action on July 19 when India Women take on Pakistan Women in their first game of the 2024 Asia Cup.
Mandhana has represented the nation in seven Tests, 85 ODIs, and 136 T20Is. She has more than 7,500 international runs, with 54 fifties and nine centuries to her name. Along with Australia’s Ellyse Perry, Smriti Mandhna is the only player to have won two ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year awards (2018 and 2021).
Mandhana was also part of the team that won the gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games. She played an important knock of 46 runs in the final as Women in Blue put up a total of 116 on the board. In response, Indian bowlers were on fire, led by Titas Sandhu (three wickets), as they won the match by 19 runs.
One of the great moments of Smriti Mandhana’s career came early this year when she guided the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden title in the Women's Premier League (WPL). This was the first title for the RCB side (including men and women).
After not being able to qualify for the playoffs in the inaugural season and winning the second, Mandhana did a fantastic job for RCB.
As Smriti Mandhana celebrates her 28th birthday, in this article, we will look at her three best moments from the Women's Premier League (WPL).
#3 Smriti Mandhana scores her maiden fifty in Women’s Premier League in 2024
It took 11 matches for Smriti Mandhana to register her maiden fifty in the WPL. She wasn’t able to score a single fifty in the 2023 season. It was match number seven of the 2024 season when the RCB captain finally broke the shackles.
After being asked to bat first, the Delhi Capitals Women scored 194 runs thanks to a half-century from Shafali Verma (50 off 31 balls) and brilliant cameos from Marizanne Kapp (32 off 16 balls) and Jess Jonassen (32* off 16 balls).
In response, Smriti Mandhana came all guns blazing, scoring 74 runs off 43 balls, hitting 10 boundaries, and three sixes in her innings. However, RCB ended up on the losing side as they fell short by 25 runs. Jess Jonassen took three wickets for Delhi.
#2 A brilliant 80-run knock against UP Warriorz
The Royal Challengers faced the UP Warriorz in the 11th game of the WPL 2024. After being asked to bat first, captain Smriti Mandhana led from the front. She scored 80 runs off 50 balls, smashing 10 fours and three sixes. She was well supported by Ellyse Perry (58 off 37 balls), as RCB finished 198/3 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, UP captain Alyssa Healy (55 off 38 balls) fought hard, but it wasn’t enough, as Warriorz fell short by 23 runs. Mandhana won the Player of the Match award for her brilliant innings.
#1 Guiding RCB to their maiden WPL title
After defeating defending champions Mumbai Indians Women in the Eliminator, RCB faced the Delhi Capitals in the final. Meg Lanning won the toss and chose to bat first, with Delhi starting brilliantly, as they were 64/0 after seven overs.
Sophie Molineux came to bowl the eighth over and completely changed the complexion of the game by picking up three wickets. It went southwards for the Capitals afterward, as they were bowled out for 113. Shreyanka Patil took four wickets for the RCB.
In response, RCB faced no difficulties as Smriti Mandhana (31) and Sophie Devine (32) provided a great start for them. Later, Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh finished the game for RCB as they lifted their maiden WPL trophy.