The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently announced the nominees for the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2024. The list features four exceptional players—Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Melie Kerr (New Zealand), Annabel Sutherland (Annabel Sutherland), and Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa).
It surprisingly excludes India’s Smriti Mandhana, despite her record-breaking performances across all formats in 2024. The omission of Mandhana, who dominated white-ball cricket and delivered a Test century in her only Test, has left fans and experts questioning the criteria behind the selections.
Smriti Mandhana has had an extraordinary year, emerging as the leading run-scorer in both ODIs and T20Is, and also in international cricket. In ODIs, she amassed a phenomenal 743 runs from 12 innings at an average of 61.91 and a strike rate of 96.99. Her year was highlighted by four centuries, including two against South Africa and one each against New Zealand and Australia.
Notably, her 136 off 120 balls against South Africa, studded with 18 boundaries and 2 sixes, propelled India to a formidable 325/3, showcasing her ability to dominate top-quality bowling attacks. With her nine career ODI centuries, Mandhana surpassed the legendary Mithali Raj’s record of seven, becoming India’s most prolific centurion in the format.
In T20Is, Mandhana continued her stellar run, scoring 763 runs from 21 innings at an impressive strike rate of 126.53. Her highest score of 77 came against the West Indies, underlining her consistency and adaptability in the shortest format. Mandhana’s achievements were not limited to the white-ball formats. In her solitary Test appearance against South Africa, she scored a breathtaking 149 runs at a strike rate of 92.54, further cementing her reputation as a versatile batter capable of excelling in any format.
Mandhana’s remarkable performances in 2024 are not isolated instances but part of a career that has consistently broken barriers and set new benchmarks. A two-time winner of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award (2018 and 2021) and the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2018), she has been a beacon of excellence in Indian cricket. Her nomination for the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 is a testament to her impact this year. However, the exclusion from the Women’s Cricketer of the Year shortlist, despite leading run charts in ODIs and T20Is, has sparked widespread disbelief.
The four players shortlisted—Chamari Athapaththu, Melie Kerr, Laura Wolvaardt, and Annabel Sutherland—undoubtedly had outstanding years. Athapaththu captained Sri Lanka to their first Women’s Asia Cup title, while also amassing 458 ODI runs, 720 T20I runs, and 30 wickets, including a sensational 195* in an ODI. Kerr played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s maiden Women’s T20 World Cup triumph, excelling with both bat and ball. Wolvaardt led South Africa to the T20 World Cup final and dominated with 697 ODI runs and 673 T20I runs. Sutherland made history with a 210* in a Test and showcased her all-round brilliance in ODIs.
Mandhana’s snub is a missed opportunity to celebrate one of the finest players of the modern era. While the nominees are deserving of their recognition, Mandhana’s unparalleled contributions to the game in 2024 deserved acknowledgment at the highest level. For now, the world of cricket watches as Mandhana’s achievements speak louder than any accolade, proving that true greatness transcends awards and recognition.
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