Smriti Mandhana is at the height of her career and not shy about revealing the secret behind her success. The 29-year-old left-hander who was born in Mumbai and grew up in Sangli is one of the most consistent players in women’s cricket. The player has amassed over 5,400 ODI runs at almost 48 and made some recent records such as winning a World Cup, being the highest-ranked batter in the ICC’s ODI rankings, and making successful appearances in different formats. But there is more to Smriti Mandhana than meets the eye. The athlete admits that her ego as a batter does not let her accept failure.
When Smriti was asked about her batting-temparament, she said, “I’m a very easy-going and chill person, but I’m also a little bit mad – mad only about my batting. You will always see me calm on the outside, but I’m very aggressive in my head. I have a lot of ego as a batter. If I get beaten even at the nets, I don’t like it at all.”
This trait is reflected in the way she plays the sport. Mandhana is always calm before a match but becomes extremely competitive when playing. Even in training sessions, she gets angry if beaten by a bowler. As the player explains, this attitude does not have anything to do with pride; on the contrary, it drives her to constantly work on improving herself. It also offers a glimpse into a journey shaped by discipline, setbacks, and relentless self-correction.
From Sangli fields to global dominance
Mandhana’s career trajectory has been anything but smooth. While growing up in Sangli, Mandhana used to train with the boys and had to battle for space in the nets. Early backing from family members and coaches proved critical for her success. She chose the school based on their reputation in sports. Coaches made sure that she batted well against good quality bowlers everyday.
The statistics tell the tale of her performance. In international cricket, Mandhana has made 635 runs in Test cricket with a high average of 48.85. In One-Day Internationals, Mandhana’s scores read 5,411 runs, including 14 hundreds. In T20 Internationals, Mandhana has made over 4,200 runs. As far as domestic T20 matches go, Mandhana has 8,800 runs.
The ‘batting ego’ that sharpens performance
The “batting ego” is right in the center of Mandhana’s game. Every inning is a battle. Even during practice, she cannot stand getting beaten by a bowler. The reaction is instant. It spurs her to correct herself instantly instead of ignoring the error.
She is a perfectionist in examining her style of play. Her mobile phone is filled with videos of batting practice but no personal photographs. Her attention is drawn to minute aspects such as stance, grip, and timing. These actions show how she craves precision and control.
Nevertheless, she understands when she needs to adapt. In long format matches, especially ODIs, she strikes a balance between aggression and patience. She has acknowledged that team situations sometimes demand restraint.
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Smriti’s mindset after failures
This has been proven by her recent performances. Following a blunder in a match for India against England in the World Cup, Mandhana was severely criticized. But she reacted with a ton to her name. A hundred against New Zealand helped her redeem herself and prove that she performs under pressure.
Her preparation process off the field has also matured over time. Her fitness, nutrition, and recovery program define her regime today. She has also developed a disciplined training environment back home in Sangli. Even after achieving much success, Mandhana manages to remain humble. She is content living in Sangli without any unnecessary fanfare. Time with family and familiar surroundings helps her reset between tours.
