Smriti Mandhana’s contribution to Indian women’s cricket has never been in doubt. The flamboyant left-hander has been the best batswoman for India in recent years. In June 2018, BCCI named her as the Best Women’s International Cricketer and in December 2018, ICC awarded her with the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year. She was also named the ODI Player of the Year by ICC as well.
Smriti has scored 2025 runs in 55 ODIs at a magnificent average of 43.1, registering her best score of 129.
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Overall, she has scored four hundred and 17 fifties in this format. As far as the shortest format is concerned, she accumulated 1451 runs in 64 matches with a personal best score of 62 and has scored 10 half-centuries.
Smriti played two Tests in her career where he garnered 81 runs including one fifty.
Smriti Mandhana is the Virat Kohli of women’s cricket: Scott Styris
Meanwhile, former New Zealand player Styris has showered praise on Indian women’s opener Mandhana by comparing her incredible talent to that of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is currently dominating in all three formats.
During the T20 World Cup opener between India and Australia, Scott Styris, who was in-charge of commentary duties, said Mandhana is the ‘Kohli of women’s cricket’.
“She’s (Smriti Mandhana) the Virat Kohli of women’s cricket. And will be remembered as someone who changed women’s cricket much like Viv Richards did a long time ago in men’s cricket,” he added.
India women got the better of Australia women in the T20 World Cup opener as they won by 17 runs. Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 49 helped India score 132/4 in 20 overs.
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In reply, Australia were bundled out of for 115, thanks to Poonam Yadav’s match-winning spell of 4/19 that helped India beat the defending champions.