India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana celebrated a remarkable year after receiving the Best International Cricketer (Women) award at the BCCI Naman Awards, reflecting on her contributions to the team and the broader resurgence of Indian cricket on the global stage.
The left-handed opener praised the collective achievements of the Indian women’s team, including their Women’s ODI World Cup triumph. “It's been a great year. Winning the World Cup was pretty special. For me individually as well, it was a great year in terms of doing what I could for the team, and I'm happy that I could contribute to that,” Mandhana said in a BCCI video.
Mandhana highlighted India’s wider resurgence in cricket, noting the success across both men’s and women’s teams in recent years. “Four World Cups and one Champions Trophy—that's pretty amazing. Indian cricket had a few years without a World Cup, and a lot of people had things to say. But to come back in the last two years and achieve what we have, it’s just amazing. Being part of this evening celebrating all teams was special,” she added.
Also Read: Ganguly to Gambhir: World Cup 2027 in South Africa is Your Real Test
She credited strong preparation, infrastructure, and institutional support for India’s recent successes, singling out BCCI and ICC chief Jay Shah for his contributions to women’s cricket. “Winning the World Cup doesn’t happen overnight. Jay sir has been amazing in the last three, four years. The WPL has transformed women’s cricket, with equal match fees and better structures, creating stars and providing facilities that make winning possible,” Mandhana said.
Mandhana also emphasized the importance of support staff and facilities in fostering a winning environment. “The kind of support staff and facilities we had, whatever was asked was provided. That’s why results come. The 19 Women’s team winning the World Cup and WPL creating stars—it’s just the start of something really great,” she noted.
Her award and remarks underscore not only her individual excellence but also the rapid rise of Indian cricket on the global stage, signaling continued growth for both women’s and men’s teams in the years to come.
Also Read: Team India's Next Match: Afghanistan Test on June 6, 2026 – Full Schedule Revealed