Rarely, if ever, a professional cricketer who’s represented their national side and features as a regular in overseas leagues as well has opted to pursue education alongside cricket commitments and especially in this era of modern-day cricket where a lot of money has come into the game, but Smriti Mandhana has opted otherwise setting an example for up-and-coming cricketers.
The Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) first-year program at the Sanjay Ghodawat University in Kolhapur. In a statement, the 26-year-old said that she felt a “positive vibe” after visiting the campus and added that the university has all the required sporting facilities, as well.
Smriti in a statement, said, “I felt a positive vibe after arriving on the campus. The university has all the sporting facilities I need. Therefore, it naturally becomes my first and the only choice for completing my education.” The best of two worlds is what Smriti will hope for as she embarks on the learn-and-earn journey.
Smriti Mandhana has enrolled for a Bachelor of Commerce (B. com) first-year course in a Kolhapur based University#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/BEQVCDpUz1
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) April 10, 2023
Sanjay Ghodawat, the chairman of the group which runs the university, said, “It is our pleasure that a reputed sports star has enrolled for a graduation course. We have always supported sporting activities and ensured that sportspersons fared well in academics too. Recently, Aishwarya Jadhav, an Under-18 tennis star who has played in Junior Wimbledon, took admission in our institution.”
A senior official at the university also confirmed what many netizens were interested in, whether she’ll be attending classes and writing exams. Quoting what the official had to say on the same, “She told us that she had to quit her studies as she was busy with cricket. But she wanted to complete her graduation and would attend classes and write her papers.”
(Quotes sourced from Times of India)
