In recent times, the Indian Women’s cricket team has been going through a rough phase with a series of defeats and coach Tushar Arothe decided to resign from his job. However, the tough times can’t diminish the rise the team has witnessed in past one year. The Women’s World Cup in 2017 brought about a basic change in their cricket. One of their main architects is Smriti Mandhana.
Mandhana played a mind-boggling knock in the opening match against England but unfortunately missed to score a century. Her knock ensured that Mithali Raj and her women open their campaign with a thumping win. In the second match against the Windies, the women’s prodigy accomplished his second ODI century, which also helped her team to their second win of the tournament in Taunton.
Smriti’s maiden century in ODIs came back in 2016 against Australia in Hobart. She notched her third century during India’s tour of South Africa earlier this year. The Women in Blue also played a couple of bilateral ODI series against the Australia and England. Mandhana was one of their star batsmen as she amassed 312 runs in five matches at an average of 62.40.
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Even in the T20Is, she has been immensely successful in recent times. In 42 matches, the Maharashtra-born batter has 857 runs in 42 matches under her belt with the help of five half-centuries. She also captained the Trailblazers in their IPL exhibition match against Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas in Mumbai. In 2016, she was also selected to play for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Mandhana is celebrating her 22nd birthday On Wednesday and wishes have poured in for one of the most talented cricketers the country has ever produced. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary Indian cricketer, also wished her on the auspicious birthday.
Sachin took to Twitter and wrote, “Many, many happy returns of the day, @mandhana_smriti. Keep smiling!”
Many, many happy returns of the day, @mandhana_smriti. Keep smiling!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 18, 2018
Smriti replied: “Thank you so much @sachin_rt Sir 😊🙌🏻”.
Thank you so much @sachin_rt Sir 😊🙌🏻 https://t.co/8p7URvoanN
— Smriti Mandhana (@mandhana_smriti) July 18, 2018
