Smriti Mandhana Explained: India's Elegant Left-Handed Women's Opener
Who Smriti Mandhana is — India's most marketable women's cricketer, ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year, her elegant left-handed stroke play, and her role in driving the global growth of women's cricket.
Smriti Mandhana (born 1996 in Mumbai) is India's premier women's batter and one of the most recognised women's cricketers in the world. A left-handed opening batter known for elegant stroke play — particularly the cover drive and the flick off her pads — Mandhana has won the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award multiple times (including 2018 and 2021) and is the most followed women's cricketer on social media globally. She plays for India across all three formats and is a mainstay of Women's Premier League (WPL) franchise cricket.
Batting Style
Mandhana's batting is characterised by an upright stance, high backlift, and a willingness to drive on the up through the off side — particularly the cover drive, which she plays with minimal risk against full-pitched deliveries. Her left-handedness creates different angles for right-arm bowlers compared to the right-handed batting of many teammates, and her footwork is considered technically correct by batting coaches. She plays expansively at the top of the order, looking to score at a high rate in white-ball cricket while being capable of building long innings in Women's Test cricket.
Women's Premier League (WPL)
The Women's Premier League (WPL), launched by the BCCI in 2023 as India's women's T20 franchise competition, has featured Mandhana as one of its marquee players. She was purchased by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the inaugural WPL auction for ₹3.4 crore — one of the highest prices at the auction — and is one of the faces of the competition's marketing. The WPL follows the IPL model with franchise teams, overseas players, and high-profile auctions; it has attracted international women's cricketers from England, Australia, New Zealand, and the West Indies to play alongside Indian players.
International Record
Mandhana has represented India since 2013 and by 2025 had scored over 3,000 ODI runs, multiple ODI centuries, and over 2,500 T20I runs — placing her among the all-time leading run-scorers in women's T20I cricket. In Women's Test cricket (of which relatively few matches are played), Mandhana has scored multiple fifties and centuries, demonstrating that her game translates across formats. She has consistently been India's best batter at ICC tournaments — Women's ODI World Cups, Women's T20 World Cups, and Commonwealth Games cricket competitions.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Smriti Mandhana famous in cricket?
India's premier women's batter and one of the most recognised women's cricketers globally — known for elegant left-handed stroke play (particularly cover drives and flicks). Two-time ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year (2018, 2021), WPL marquee player, and the most followed women's cricketer on social media.
What is the Women's Premier League (WPL)?
India's women's T20 franchise competition, launched by BCCI in 2023 following the IPL model — franchise teams, overseas player auctions, and high-profile broadcast coverage. Mandhana plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (purchased for ₹3.4 crore at the inaugural auction). The WPL has significantly raised the profile and commercial value of women's cricket in India.
What is Smriti Mandhana's batting style?
Left-handed opening batter with an upright stance, high backlift, and elegant stroke play through the off side — particularly the cover drive. Known for playing expansively at the top of the order in white-ball cricket while also capable of building long innings in Women's Test cricket.