New Delhi: Despite a year not so memorable for Indian women’s cricket, Smriti Mandhana and her raging form with the bat was a silver lining. On Monday, the India opener won the ‘Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award’ for the ICC’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021. This is the second time, Mandhana won this award in 2018 as well, has bagged the prestigious honour.
The year gone by was not in any way memorable for India’s women’s cricket team. However, Smriti, as the star team opener, played a massive role in India’s two-match win against South Africa. Out of the eight matches, India managed to win two matches against South Africa at home and Smriti scored an 80 and 48 not out in the second and final ODIs respectively.
A year to remember 🤩
Smriti Mandhana's quality at the top of the order was on full display in 2021 🏏
More on her exploits 👉 https://t.co/QI8Blxf0O5 pic.twitter.com/3jRjuzIxiT
— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2022
The star batter grabbed attention with her impressive on-field performance. Smriti has scored a staggering 855 runs across 22 internationals at an average of 38.86 with one century and five half-centuries in 2021.
Her century was one of the major highlights of 2021.
At India’s maiden pink-ball Test in Australia, the 25 year old stood out with her maiden Test century. Her innings came to an end at 127, but not before she put India in a favoured spot. While the match ended in a draw, Smriti Mandhana was declared the Player of the Match.
Smriti’s impressive form continued when she scored a half century in the T20Is. She also managed to grab 29 runs off 15 balls making an everlasting impression. The 25-year-old star opener has bagged the top spot after Australia’s Ellyse Perry in 2020.
Mandhana will next be part of the one-off T20I match where the Indian women’s team will be up against New Zealand, before taking them on in a five-match ODIs starting from February 11. Mandhana has also been named in the 15-member squad for the ICC ODI World Cup in New Zealand. Team India will play their first World Cup fixture against Pakistan on March 6 at the Bay Oval.
