I believe in not speaking too far ahead: Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana stays focused on the process as India build toward the 2025 Women’s World Cup. She also launches a cricket academy in Dubai with UK coach Don Bhagawati
Hyderabad: With over 9,000 international runs, 1,000-plus boundaries, and a reputation built on grace under pressure, Smriti Mandhana is entering a crucial phase of her career. But as excitement around the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup builds, she remains refreshingly grounded.
Speaking on the Cricket Predicta Show, Smriti said she had always believed in not looking too far ahead.
“We have to focus on the processes, do every day right — and that’s the aim,” she said.
“Even as a team, everyone’s calm. We’ve got a long road ahead over the next five to six months. I wouldn’t like to speak a lot about it. Cricket is such a game — you do your things right, things fall in place. Let’s just try and do that well,” the star India opener added.
While she keeps her eyes on the pitch, Mandhana is also nurturing the future of the game. She recently launched the City Cricket Academy by Smriti Mandhana in Dubai — a project powered by her deep-rooted relationship with UK-based coach Don Bhagawati, who will lead the coaching responsibilities.
“This is a great partnership for me,” said Mandhana. “Right now, I’m focusing more on my cricket, and Don will handle the coaching. I’ve known Don for many years, and when I first heard his name, I was scared. I wondered, who is this ‘Don’? But over time, Don and his family have become like family to me in England.”
Don Bhagawati, a respected figure in grassroots cricket in the UK, shares Smriti’s passion for simplicity, discipline, and long-term development. Their vision for the academy is clear: create a space where young cricketers can develop their skills with joy, purpose, and the right values.
With her feet firmly on the ground, Mandhana’s dual commitment — toward excellence on the field and empowerment off it — is a quiet but powerful statement of leadership ahead of one of the biggest tournaments of her career.
Smriti Mandhana has been a consistent performer for India across all formats. In 7 Tests, she has scored 629 runs in 12 innings at an average of 57.18, including 2 centuries and 3 fifties, with a top score of 149.
In 103 ODIs, she has amassed 4,501 runs at an average of 46.4 and a strike rate of 87.93, including 11 hundreds and 31 fifties.
In 153 T20Is, she has scored 3,982 runs at an average of 29.94 and a strike rate of 123.98, including 1 century and 31 fifties.
With over 1,000 boundaries across formats, Mandhana remains a vital force in India’s batting unit.
