India’s opening batsman and India’s ‘National crush’ Smriti Mandhana turns 25 today. Born in 1996, the left-hand batsman and right-arm off-break bowler was selected in Maharastra’s Under-15 squad at the age of 9. Two years later, she made her way into Maharastra’s Under-19 team.

Mandhana made her T20I and ODI debut at the age of 16. She has since played 3 Tests, 59 ODIs, and 81 T20Is for India. She first caught people’s attention during the 2017 World Cup when she scored 90 and 106* in the first two matches. In 2018, she was presented the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year and was also named the ODI Player of the Year by the ICC.

Also Read: With 10 consecutive ODI 50s while chasing, Smriti Mandhana achieves what Virat Kohli hasn’t

On the occasion of her birthday, let’s take a look at the greatest records held by her – 

1. In 2019, Mandhana became the youngest ever Indian player to lead the national side in T20Is. She was 22 years and 229 days old when she led the side in the series against England.

2. In 2018, Mandhana became 2nd fastest Indian cricketer to score 1000 runs in T20Is. She achieved the milestone during her 49th innings, which was against Australia. She scored 83 runs in the match. 

3. Mandhana was India’s top scorer in the 2022 World Cup qualification rounds. Playing 16 matches, the 25-year-old scored 911 runs at an average of 65.07, recording a strike rate of 95.99, including two centuries – the most for India.

India Women will be playing against Australia Women in a day-night Test from September 30-October 3.

Expressing her excitement about the same, Mandhana told ESPN Cricket, “Frankly, when I used to watch day-night Tests of men, I actually never felt that I will be able to experience this moment – it is wrong to say ‘I’ at the moment – that the Indian team will be able to experience the moment. So, when it got declared, I was like – Oh, wow. That’s going to be crazy.”