Star India batter Smriti Mandhana adds another feather to her illustrious cap as she surpasses the 6000 run mark in international cricket. Joining the decorated list of Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur, she is the third Indian to have joined the famed duo.
The past few years have been remarkable for the southpaw who has not just dismantled bowling attacks but has set herself apart in the league as a quality opener. Perhaps, it was in 2022 that we saw her add more finesse, precision and consistency to her already bristling talent which made her a hot property in women’s cricket sought after by all the major leagues around the globe. Her remarkable century and six half-centuries in the ODIs in 2022 were phenomenal. Be it her 123 versus the West Indies at the ODI World Cup or the 91 against England, she has reeked of consistency.
🇮🇳Smriti Mandhana completed 6000+ International Runs.
She became only the 3rd Indian after Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur to achieve this milestone.#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/6Nldb49kfX
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 24, 2023
What is all the more remarkable is how she carried on the same vein of form to the shortest format of the game in T20Is where she raked up 594 runs at a healthy average of 33 and strike rate of 133.48. With five half-centuries under her belt, she led from the front in the face of the criticism that India was given when they lost matches. Her performances in the Asia Cup where she scored that unbeaten 51 or even the scintillating performances at the Commonwealth Games really stand out and 2022 saw her climb the ICC rankings besides finding herself in many of the top run-getters lists for the year.
In 2023, India will be hoping for her to carry the form as the team will be looking to win their maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and many other bilateral series that awaits the team.
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.