Twelve years after first donning the Indian jersey, Smriti Mandhana remains as passionate about the sport as she was on debut. Over the years, India’s greatest left-handed batter has come to one powerful realisation — cricket isn’t just her profession; it is the one constant she loves beyond anything else. Reflecting on her journey from her 2013 debut to playing a pivotal role in India’s historic Women’s World Cup triumph last month, Mandhana opened up about the motivations that continue to drive her.
“I don’t think I love anything more than cricket. Wearing that Indian jersey is what keeps us going. You put aside every worry in life, and that one thought helps you refocus,” she said at the Amazon Smbhav Summit — her first public appearance since calling off her marriage with musician Palash Mucchal.
Mandhana spoke about how her ambition was clear from childhood. “The madness for batting was always there. People didn’t understand it, but deep down, I always wanted to be called a world champion,” she recalled.
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For her, the World Cup trophy symbolises years of perseverance and heartbreak. “This World Cup was the reward for the battle we’ve fought for so long. I’ve been playing for more than 12 years, and many times things just didn’t fall in place. We visualised the win before the final, and when we saw it play out on the big screen, it gave us goosebumps. It was truly a special moment,” the Indian vice-captain shared.
VIDEO | Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana says, “I don’t love anything more than cricket, wearing Indian jersey gives the motivation and keeps all problems aside.”
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/CMFFA3A1Nv
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 10, 2025
Having veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami present during the final added a deeply emotional layer to the victory.
“We badly wanted to win it for them. Watching tears in their eyes made it feel like the win belonged to women’s cricket as a whole. It was a battle won for everyone who paved the way,” Mandhana said.
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Reflecting on the lessons reinforced through the campaign, she added, “You always start at zero, no matter what you scored previously. And don’t play for yourself — that’s something we kept reminding each other throughout.”
Smriti Mandhana’s words capture not just her own journey but the spirit of Indian women’s cricket today — grounded, resilient, and driven by collective pride.
