India opener Smriti Mandhana has won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021 on Monday. Despite India struggling last year, Mandhana did well with the bat. While against South Africa India won just two of the eight matches at home, Mandhana played a key role in both of the wins. She scored 80 not out as India chased down 158 in the second ODI that helped them level the series, and scored 48* in the win in the final T20I as well.

Mandhana played a key knock of 78 in the first innings of the one-off Test against England that ended in a draw. She played an important knock of 49 in India’s only win in the ODI series. Her 15-ball 29 and fifty in the T20I series went in vain though as India fell short in both the matches and lost the series 2-1.

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Smriti Mandhana scored her maiden century in the longest format during India’s first-ever pink-ball Test. She smashed 127 and helped Idia put up a decent total. The match ended in a draw, and shea was declared the Player of the Match.

Commenting on receiving the honour, Smriti Mandhana told ICC: “I am truly honoured for receiving the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2021. I am grateful to my team-mates, my coaches, my family, friends and fans who believed in my potential and supported me in this journey.

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“A recognition of such high class from the global governing body of cricket in an exceptional and difficult year will motivate me to continue to better my game and contribute to Team India’s success going forward. I look forward to 2022 with a clear focus on winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand as we continue to prepare as a team and unit,” Smriti Mandhana concluded.