Born on July 18, 1996 in the financial capital of India, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Smriti Mandhana is the most exciting talented women cricketers. Indeed her journey from a sport-loving child to becoming an international superstar showcases her dedication, ability, and unwavering passion for the sport. About Smriti Mandhana FULL NAME Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana PLACE OF BIRTH Mumbai, Maharashtra BORN 18 July 1996 HEIGHT 5 ft 4 in EYE COLOUR Black JERSEY NO 18 BATTING STYLE Left-Handed BOWLING STYLE Right arm offbreak FATHER Shrinivas Mandhana MOTHER Smita Mandhana BROTHER Shravan Mandhana BOYFRIEND Palash Muchhal HOBBIES Music ZODIAC SIGN Cancer SCHOOL Shardashram Vidyamandir SchoolSeth GS Medical College Early Life and Family Image Source: Women Cricket Hailing from a cricket-loving family, Smriti's father and elder brother played district-level cricket for Sangli and made her develop an affinity for the game. The desire to play cricket professionally had budding in Smriti when she saw her brother, Shravan, playing in the Maharashtra state Under-16 tournaments. So, the foundation was very strong based on which Smriti rose to success. Smriti and Shravan are naturally right-handed, but because their father was fascinated with left-handed batsmen, they both decided to become left-handed, which would characterise the playing style of Smriti . Also Read | How to Become a Women Cricketer in India | Step-by-Step Guide The Rise Through the Ranks Image Source: The Bridge Not at such a tender age has Mandhana shown so much promise. She had been selected for Maharashtra's Under-15 team in the district level when she was just 9 years old. She made fast progress such that by the year 2007, she was 11 years old and had been selected to represent Maharashtra's Under-19 Cricket team. These early Cricket experiences polished the skills of Smriti and prepared her for whatever lay ahead. International Debut and Early Success Image Source: Mid - Day In 2013, when Smriti was just 16 years old, the youngster fulfilled her dream of representing India when she played her first international match against Bangladesh. It was in the summer of 2014, on playing her very first test against England, that she had made an excellent debut with an intoxicating half-century that shot Smriti straight to the test scene. Achievements and Milestones Image Source: NewsBytes With many achievements and records studded in her career, February 2019 is a particular date for Smriti when she etched her name in record books by becoming the first Indian batter to have scored a T20I half-century in the shortest possible time - in just 24 balls. The same year, she became No. 1 batter in the ICC women's ODI rankings. Improvements in performance are clearly visible in her rankings as well. Mandhana is third in ODI runs for India, though only behind the legendary Mithali Raj and the current captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. In T20I cricket, she stands second in runs scored, further assuring her place as one of India's most prolific batswomen. She is an excellent cricketer whose performance has been recognized internationally twice as the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year in 2018 and 2021. Such a performance really makes it consistent and impactful upon the global women's cricketing arena. Global recognition and leagues Image Source: ESPN In September 2016, Smriti became one of the first two Indians, the other being Harmanpreet Kaur, to be signed for the Women's Big Bash League. Brisbane Heat recruited her, and it was the beginning of her participation in premier T20 leagues worldwide. She was further fancied when she was selected for the 2016 ICC Women's Team of the Year. Leadership and Recent Achievements Image Source: NDTV It is here that Smriti's leadership qualities came to the fore when she was appointed vice-captain of the Indian team that clinched the Gold at Asian Games 2023, which is held in Hangzhou. A landmark for women's cricket in the country, Smriti was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for an unbelievable sum of Rs. 3.4 crore in the inaugural Women's Premier League auction held in February 2023. Her leadership was at the zenith in 2024 when she led Royal Challengers Bangalore to a successful season in WPL. For her, it was victory on an individual level but also played a significant role in the enhancement and popularity of women's cricket in India. Also Read | Top 5 Most Beautiful Female Cricketers in The World | Beauty and Brilliance Financial Success and Net Worth Image Source: MensXP Some of the wins on the cricket field have translated into some seriously significant moolah for Smriti Mandhana. Estimated net worth in 2024 is a whopping $4 million, putting her among some of the world's richest female cricketers-they say she is the fourth-richest cricketer in India, according to Times of India. She earns revenue from various sources: - BCCI Annual Contract, which is INR 50 lakh every year. - Test Match Fees-INR 15 Lakh, ODI-INR 6 Lakh, T20I-INR 3 Lakh. - Women's Premier League (WPL): She earns around INR 3.4 crore season-wise for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. - International leagues: She plays in WBBL and The Hundred. Generally, over time, Mandhana's net worth gradually increased starting from about $1 million in 2018 up to $4 million as of 2024. Off the Field Image Source: Sportskeeda Outside cricketing, Smriti has a multifarious set of interests and entrepreneurial activities. She owns a café called SM 18 Sports Café in her hometown Sangli, which was established in 2019. That interest was very much reflected in what she says would probably have been her profession if she hadn't become a cricketer-firstly. With her free time, Smriti loves playing BGMI, likes football and tennis, especially Cristiano Ronaldo observation. Career Starts Batting and Fielding Format Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St WTests 7 12 1 629 149 57.18 987 63.72 2 3 108 3 2 0 WODIs 85 85 6 3585 136 45.37 4214 85.07 7 27 428 39 26 0 WT20Is 143 137 14 3512 87 28.55 2880 121.94 0 26 473 68 33 0 Conclusion It is the story of talent, determination and relentless pursuit of excellence from a young cricket enthusiast to one of the world's leading batswomen, Smriti Mandhana. But beyond the boundaries of the cricket field, her contributions to Indian cricket and women's sport extend far and wide. Because she continues on breaking records, leading teams to victory, and expanding her influence both on and off the field, the Smriti Mandhana is an indispensable figure who cemented growth and popularised women's cricket in India. The success story of Smriti Mandhana places heavy emphasis on the value of family support, dedication, and hard work to achieve one's dreams. As a role model for budding cricketers throughout India and beyond, much is already written in the legacy of Smriti Mandhana as a trailblazer for women's cricket, with much still to be written in the course of her glorious career.