India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana recently appeared on the famous show Kaun Banega Crorepati, where she shed light on her journey into the cricket world.
Mandhana, who recently played a significant role in India’s historic Test win against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, explainied how she took small steps to become a prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket over the past seven years.
Mandhana stated that it was her father who wanted her to become a cricketer as he himself could not pursue the sport because of his job.
“When my father and brothers were kids, they loved playing cricket. Sadly, my father couldn’t pursue cricket as a job. That’s why he wished for both of his children to play cricket, hoping that one of us would get the chance to represent India. So, I’ve been hearing about cricket since I was small, maybe even when I was still in my mom’s womb.”Mandhana was quoted as saying on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Mandhana also said she altered her batting from being a right-hander to being a left-hander after seeing her brother bat in the nets.
“I used to go to practice sessions and help my brother by picking up balls. I learned to bat by standing behind him in the practice nets. Even though I am naturally right-handed, my brother is left-handed, so I learned to bat with my left hand by watching him. I stood behind him and observed, and that’s how my cricket journey began.” she added.
Mandhana’s performance against Australia
Mandhana, in the first innings, scored 74 (104) and in the second innings, she amassed unbeaten 38.