Smriti Mandhana named ICC women’s cricketer of the year 2021

In the limited-overs series against South Africa where India won just two of the eight matches at home, Smriti Mandhana played a major role in both of the wins.

Indian women cricket opener Smriti Mandhana. (Source: Twitter)

India women cricket team opener Smriti Mandhana has been declared as the ICC women’s ODI cricketer for the year 2021. Mandhana tallied 855 runs in 22 internationals at an impressive average of 38.86 with one century and five half-centuries.

Despite India enduring a difficult 2021, Mandhana’s stock continued to rise this year. In the limited-overs series against South Africa where India won just two of the eight matches at home, Mandhana played a major role in both of the wins. She made 80 not out as India chased down 158 in the second ODI that helped them level the series and scored 48 not out in the win in the final T20I.

Mandhana played a sublime innings of 78 in the first innings of the one-off Test against England that ended in a draw. She played an important knock of 49 in India’s only win in the ODI series. Her 15-ball 29 and fifty in the T20I series went in vain though as India fell short in both the matches and lost the series 2-1.

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

Mandhana was in good touch in the series against Australia, starting with the ODI series where she scored 86 in the second ODI. She compiled a brilliant century in the only Test (the first of her career), and was awarded the Player of the Match. She scored her second T20I fifty of the year in the final T20I, though India fell short and lost the series 2-0.

Smriti Mandhana scored a century in India’s pink-ball Test debut

Mandhana made India’s first-ever pink-ball Test even more memorable by smashing her maiden century in the longest format. The left-hander played her natural game to begin with, and scored a run-a-ball half-century, playing with caution under the lights.

Mandhana was caught on 80, but was given a reprieve after Ellyse Perry overstepped. She made the most of the lifeline, reaching her first Test century in style with a boundary. Her innings finally came to an end at 127, after putting India in a strong position. The match ended in a draw, and Mandhana was declared the Player of the Match.