Bengaluru, Feb 04 : India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana, despite a record-breaking 2024, has made it clear that personal achievements alone cannot define her career. While she became the first woman to score four ODI centuries in a calendar year and was named BCCI Women’s Cricketer of the Year and ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, Mandhana insists that India’s disappointing exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup overshadowed her individual triumphs.
In an exclusive interview with Sports Today, Mandhana shared her thoughts on the mixed year, acknowledging her personal successes but emphasizing the importance of team performance. “I always believe that something is really special to us as Indian team is that World Cup. So, we had a really disappointing one,” Mandhana said, referring to India’s early exit from the tournament. “I wouldn’t say 2024 was my best year because we did not win the World Cup trophy.”
Mandhana’s stellar ODI performance in 2024 included 743 runs from 13 matches, with an average of 57.86 and a strike rate of 95.15. Her achievement of four ODI centuries was a historic first for a woman in a calendar year. However, Mandhana placed the team’s collective goal above individual milestones. “Whenever we win the World Cup trophy, that would be the best year for me individually and as a team,” she added, reiterating that cricket is a team sport where individual accomplishments cannot replace the joy of winning a global title.
Looking ahead, Mandhana is now focusing on the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, where she will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The star batter remains determined to lead her side to another championship, with a renewed sense of purpose and an emphasis on simplicity. “I think we need to really keep things simple…everyone who’s coming in also has a lot of energy,” Mandhana said, noting her team’s enthusiasm for the tournament.
Mandhana’s leadership role in the WPL is also an opportunity for her to nurture young talent and contribute to the growth of the next generation of Indian cricketers. She expressed confidence that the tournament serves as a crucial platform for emerging players to showcase their abilities.
With the WPL 2025 and a busy international calendar on the horizon, Mandhana is focused on the immediate tasks at hand. “What I have to do today in the gym, what I have to practice tomorrow,” she said. “When you do those things right, it is when you can go on the ground and play a certain way.”
Mandhana’s unwavering commitment to improving her game, her leadership of RCB, and her focus on turning personal success into collective triumphs for Team India provide a clear indication that her journey is far from over. As she sets her sights on WPL 2025, Mandhana’s determination to bring home a World Cup trophy remains her ultimate goal.
